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Ayodhya Kaanda - Sarga 11
In this Sarga, the infatuated Daṡaratha, reasserts that he would oblige Kaikēyee with anything that she asks for, and swears in the name of Rāma, whom he loves more than anything in this world, including himself and his other children.
Thus assured, and after calling upon the gods and all beings to witness, Kaikēyee divulges her intent, to have Bharata crowned and to have Rāma sent away to the Vanas.
2.11.1 தம் மந்மதஸரைர்வித்தமம் காமவேகவஸாநுகம் ॥
உவாச ப்ருதிவீபாலம் கைகேயீ தாருணம் வச: ॥
taṃ manmathaṡarairviddhamaṃ kāmavēgavaṡānugam ॥
uvāca pṛthivīpālaṃ kaikēyī dāruṇaṃ vacaḥ ॥
To him, the ruler of the earth, who was struck by the dart of Love,
and swept off his feet by the tides of passion,
Kaikēyee spoke these terrible words. In modern times, even passionate love is often seen as indulgence, and demeaned to little more than lust.
But in classical times, passionate love is lifted into divine realms and is celebrated as an expression of the deepest attraction between the polarities of the universe, of Prakṛti and Purusha.
Love between male and female and love between mother and child are celebrated in the classical times by the Indic civilization, over and over, in a highly glorious manner, a parallel to which is hard to be found in the classical literature of any other civilization.
You may recall the extensive commentary we had on this subject in Bāla Kāṇḍa, Sarga 2, in the context of Vālmeeki seeing one of two love-making birds shot by a hunter, an incident that moved the great poet and set the tone for this great poem.
2.11.2 நாஸ்மி விப்ரக்ருதாதேவ கேந சிந்நாவமாநிதா ।
அபிப்ராயஸ்து மே கஸ்சித்தமிச்சாமி த்வயா க்ருதம் ॥
nāsmi viprakṛtādēva kēna cinnāvamānitā ।
abhiprāyastu mē kaṡcittamicchāmi tvayā kṛtam ॥
My lord! I have been neither harmed nor insulted by anybody.
But there is something I want you to do for me.
2.11.3 ப்ரதிஜ்ஞாம் ப்ரதிஜாநீஷ்வ யதி த்வம் கர்துமிச்சஸி ।
அத தத்வ்யாஹரிஷ்யாமி யதபிப்ரார்திதம் மயா ॥
pratijñāṃ pratijānīṣva yadi tvaṃ kartumicchasi ।
atha tadvyāhariṣyāmi yadabhiprārthitaṃ mayā ॥
If you are willing to fulfill it, give me your word.
Then I shall lay out what I want.
2.11.4 தாமுவாச மஹாதேஜா: கைகேயீமீஷதுத்ஸ்மித: ।
காமீ ஹஸ்தேந ஸம்க்ருஹ்ய மூர்தஜேஷு ஸுசிஸ்மிதாம் ॥
tāmuvāca mahātējāḥ kaikēyīmīṣadutsmitaḥ ।
kāmī hastēna saṃgṛhya mūrdhajēṣu ṡucismitām ॥
That supremely radiant King
smiling at that Kaikēyee who had a bright smile,
and playing with her hair with infatuation, said:
2.11.5 ஆவலிப்தே ந ஜாநாஸி த்வத்த: ப்ரியதரோ மம ।
மநுஜோ மநுஜவ்யாக்ராத்ராமாதந்யோ ந வித்யதே ॥
āvaliptē na jānāsi tvattaḥ priyatarō mama ।
manujō manujavyāghrādrāmādanyō na vidyatē ॥
O proud lady, don't you know that
there is no one in this world except Rāma, that tiger among men,
who is dearer to me than yourself?
2.11.6 தேநாஜய்யேந முக்யேந ராகவேண மஹாத்மநா ।
ஸபே தே ஜீவநார்ஹேண ப்ரூஹி யந்மநஸேச்சாஸி ॥
tēnājayyēna mukhyēna rāghavēṇa mahātmanā ।
ṡapē tē jīvanārhēṇa brūhi yanmanasēcchāsi ॥
I give you my word, swearing on that
invincible and prominent Mahātma Rāghava, the prop of my life.
Let me know what you have on your mind!
2.11.7 யம் முஹூர்தமபஸ்யம்ஸ்து ந ஜீவேயமஹம் த்ருவம் ।
தேந ராமேண கைகேயி! ஸபே தே வசநக்ரியாம் ॥
yaṃ muhūrtamapaṡyaṃstu na jīvēyamahaṃ dhruvam ।
tēna rāmēṇa kaikēyi! ṡapē tē vacanakriyām ॥
O Kaikēyee! I swear to do your bidding,
by the name of that Rāma without seeing whom,
I cannot live, for sure, even for a moment.
2.11.8 ஆத்மநா வாத்மஜைஸ்சாந்யைர்வ்ருணேயம் மநுஜர்ஷபம் ।
தேந ராமேண கைகேயி! ஸபே தே வசநக்ரியாம் ॥
ātmanā vātmajaiṡcānyairvṛṇēyaṃ manujarṣabham ।
tēna rāmēṇa kaikēyi! ṡapē tē vacanakriyām ॥
O Kaikēyee! I swear to do your bidding,
by the name of that Rāma, the bull among men,
whom I seek even over myself and my other children!
2.11.9 பத்ரே ஹ்ருதயமப்யேததநும்ருஸோத்தரஸ்வ மே ।
ஏதத்ஸமீக்ஷ்ய கைகேயி! ப்ரூஹி யத்ஸாது மந்யஸே ॥
bhadrē hṛdayamapyētadanumṛṡōddharasva mē ।
ētatsamīkṣya kaikēyi! brūhi yatsādhu manyasē ॥
My dear, touch my heart and lift it up!
Consider everything that there is, O Kaikēyee,
and tell me what you think is right!
2.11.10 பலமாத்மநி ஜாநந்தீ ந மாம் ஸங்கிதுமர்ஹஸி ।
கரிஷ்யாமி தவ ப்ரீதிம் ஸுக்ருதேநாபி தே ஸபே ॥
balamātmani jānantī na māṃ ṡaṅkitumarhasi ।
kariṣyāmi tava prītiṃ sukṛtēnāpi tē ṡapē ॥
You shall not doubt me, as you very well know
the power you have over me!
I swear on all the good deeds that I have done,
that I will do whatever pleases you!
2.11.11 ஸா ததர்தமநா தேவீ தமபிப்ராயமாகதம் ।
நிர்மாத்யஸ்த்யாச்ச ஹர்ஷாச்ச பபாஷே துர்வசம் வச: ॥
sā tadarthamanā dēvī tamabhiprāyamāgatam ।
nirmādhyasthyācca harṣācca babhāṣē durvacaṃ vacaḥ ॥
The lady, intent on her purpose,
told what was on her mind, the abominable words,
exultantly and in no uncertain terms.
2.11.12 தேந வாக்யேந ஸம்ஹ்ருஷ்டா தமபிப்ராயமாகதம் ।
வ்யாஜஹார மஹாகோரமப்யாகதமிவாந்தகம் ॥
tēna vākyēna saṃhṛṣṭā tamabhiprāyamāgatam ।
vyājahāra mahāghōramabhyāgatamivāntakam ॥
Delighted by his words, she spoke what was on her mind,
which was like death descending from nowhere, all of a sudden.
2.11.13 யதா க்ரமேண ஸபஸி வரம் மம ததாஸி ச ।
தச்ச்ருண்வந்து த்ரயஸ்த்ரிம்ஸத்தேவாஸ்ஸாக்நிபுரோகமா: ॥
yathā kramēṇa ṡapasi varaṃ mama dadāsi ca ।
tacchṛṇvantu trayastriṃṡaddēvāssāgnipurōgamāḥ ॥
May all the thirty three gods, led by Agni
bear witness to your oath to give the boon to me!
2.11.15 சந்த்ராதித்யௌ நபஸ்சைவ க்ரஹா ராத்ர்யஹநீ திஸ: ।
ஜகச்ச ப்ருதிவீ சேயம் ஸகந்தர்வா ஸராக்ஷஸா ॥
நிஸாசராணி பூதாநி க்ருஹேஷு க்ருஹதேவதா! ।
யாநி சாந்யாநி பூதாநி ஜாநீயுர்பாஷிதம் தவ ॥
candrādityau nabhaṡcaiva grahā rātryahanī diṡaḥ ।
jagacca pṛthivī cēyaṃ sagandharvā sarākṣasā ॥
niṡācarāṇi bhūtāni gṛhēṣu gṛhadēvatā! ।
yāni cānyāni bhūtāni jānīyurbhāṣitaṃ tava ॥
May the moon and sun, the sky, the planets,
the night and day, the cardinals of space and the world,
this earth along with all the Gandharvas the Rākshasas,
the spirits that rage in the night, the deities of every house
and the rest of all beings too, bear witness to your words!
2.11.16 ஸத்யஸந்தோ மஹாதேஜா: தர்மஜ்ஞ: ஸுஸமாஹித: ।
வரம் மம ததாத்யேஷ தந்மே ஸ்ர்ருண்வந்து தைவதா: ॥
satyasandhō mahātējāḥ dharmajñaḥ susamāhitaḥ ।
varaṃ mama dadātyēṣa tanmē ṡrṛṇvantu daivatāḥ ॥
This supremely radiant savant of Dharma,
the adherent of truth, in all his sanity and integrity
is giving me these boons!
May all the gods bear witness to this!
2.11.17 இதி தேவீ மஹேஷ்வாஸம் பரிக்ருஹ்யாபிஸஸ்ய ச ।
தத: பரமுவாசேதம் வரதம் காமமோஹிதம் ॥
iti dēvī mahēṣvāsaṃ parigṛhyābhiṡasya ca ।
tataḥ paramuvācēdaṃ varadaṃ kāmamōhitam ॥
Thus flattering and pinning down that great archer,
the willing and infatuated man, she said:
2.11.18 ஸ்மர ராஜந் புராவ்ருத்தம் தஸ்மிந் தைவாஸுரே ரணே ।
தத்ர சாச்யாவயச்சத்ருஸ்தவ ஜீவிதமந்தரா ॥
smara rājan purāvṛttaṃ tasmin daivāsurē raṇē ।
tatra cācyāvayacchatrustava jīvitamantarā ॥
Recall, O King, the war that occurred
between the Dēvas and the Asuras long ago,
in which you were relieved of everything but your life. Since Daṡaratha unequivocally promised to Kaikēyee that he would fulfill whatever was on her mind, she did not have to invoke the past, the war between Dēvas and Asuras or the boons here, strictly speaking.
But she does it anyway, being the foolish (gullible) enough to follow the script given by Manthara, verbatim.
2.11.19 தத்ர சாபி மயா தேவ யத்த்வம் ஸமபிரக்ஷித: ।
ஜாக்ரத்யா யதமாநாயாஸ்ததோ மே ப்ராததா வரௌ ॥
tatra cāpi mayā dēva yattvaṃ samabhirakṣitaḥ ।
jāgratyā yatamānāyāstatō mē prādadā varau ॥
There, my Lord, you were rescued by me.
In appreciation of my being alert in saving you,
you granted me two boons.
2.11.20 தௌ து தத்தௌ வரௌ தேவ நிக்ஷேபௌ ம்ருகயாம்யஹம் ।
ததைவ ப்ருதிவீபால ஸகாஸே ஸத்யஸங்கர ॥
tau tu dattau varau dēva nikṣēpau mṛgayāmyaham ।
tathaiva pṛthivīpāla sakāṡē satyasaṅgara ॥
My Lord! O protector of the earth! O adherent of truth!
I am now seeking those two boons that are safe with you.
2.11.21 தத்ப்ரதிஸ்ருத்ய தர்மேண ந சேத்தாஸ்யஸி மே வரம் ।
அத்யைவ ஹி ப்ரஹாஸ்யாமி ஜீவிதம் த்வத்விமாநிதா ॥
tatpratiṡrutya dharmēṇa na cēddāsyasi mē varam ।
adyaiva hi prahāsyāmi jīvitaṃ tvadvimānitā ॥
If I am slighted by you by not being granted those boons
that were promised, in accordance with Dharma,
I shall give up my life right away.
2.11.22 வாங்மாத்ரேண ததா ராஜா கைகேய்யா ஸ்வவஸே க்ருத: ।
ப்ரசஸ்கந்த விநாஸாய பாஸம் ம்ருக இவாத்மந: ॥
vāṅmātrēṇa tadā rājā kaikēyyā svavaṡē kṛtaḥ ।
pracaskanda vināṡāya pāṡaṃ mṛga ivātmanaḥ ॥
Bound by those words of Kaikēyee, the king entered,
like a deer, into a fatal trap laid by her.
2.11.23-24a தத: பரமுவாசேதம் வரதம் காமமோஹிதம் ।
வரௌ யௌ மே த்வயா தேவ! ததா தத்தௌ மஹீபதே ।
தௌ தாவதஹமத்யைவ வக்ஷ்யாமி ஸ்ருணு மே வச: ॥
tataḥ paramuvācēdaṃ varadaṃ kāmamōhitam ।
varau yau mē tvayā dēva! tadā dattau mahīpatē ।
tau tāvadahamadyaiva vakṣyāmi ṡṛṇu mē vacaḥ ॥
Then she said to that willing and infatuated man:
“My Lord! O ruler of the earth! Listen now,
I would now like to spell out
those two boons given to me by you!”
2.11.24b-25a அபிஷேகஸமாரம்போ ராகவஸ்யோபகல்பித: ।
அநேநைவாபிஷேகேண பரதோ மேऽபிஷிச்யதாம் ॥
abhiṣēkasamārambhō rāghavasyōpakalpitaḥ ।
anēnaivābhiṣēkēṇa bharatō mē'bhiṣicyatām ॥
Arrangements for Rāma's consecration have been duly made!
May those very arrangements be used to crown Bharata!
2.11.25b-26a யோ த்விதீயோ வரோ தேவ தத்த: ப்ரீதேந மே த்வயா ।
ததா தைவாஸுரே யுத்தே தஸ்ய காலோऽயமாகத: ॥
yō dvitīyō varō dēva dattaḥ prītēna mē tvayā ।
tadā daivāsurē yuddhē tasya kālō'yamāgataḥ ॥
And now the time has also come
for the second boon you gave, pleased with me
during the war between the Dēvas and the Asuras.
2.11.26b-27a நவ பஞ்ச ச வர்ஷாணி தண்டகாரண்யமாஸ்ரித: ।
சீராஜிநஜடாதாரீ ராமோ பவது தாபஸ: ॥
nava pañca ca varṣāṇi daṇḍakāraṇyamāṡritaḥ ।
cīrājinajaṭādhārī rāmō bhavatu tāpasaḥ ॥
May Rāma be bound to the Daṇḍaka Vana for nine years and five,
wearing deer skin and sporting matted locks, living like a Muni!
2.11.27b-28 பரதோ பஜதாமத்ய யௌவராஜ்யமகம்டகம்।
ஏஷ மே பரம: காமோ தத்தமேவ வரம் வ்ருணே ।
அத்ய சைவ ஹி பஸ்யேயம் ப்ரயாந்தம் ராகவம் வநம் ॥
bharatō bhajatāmadya yauvarājyamakaṃṭakam।
ēṣa mē paramaḥ kāmō dattamēva varaṃ vṛṇē ।
adya caiva hi paṡyēyaṃ prayāntaṃ rāghavaṃ vanam ॥
May Bharata become the Crown Prince without any rivals.
This is my ultimate desire.
I am only asking for a boon that has already been granted.
I would like to see Rāma leaving for the Vana right away.
2.11.29 ஸ ராஜராஜ: பவ ஸத்யஸங்கர:
குலம் ச ஸீலம் ச ஹி ரக்ஷ ஜந்ம ச ।
பரத்ரவாஸே ஹி வதந்த்யநுத்தமம்
தபோதநாஸ்ஸத்யவசோ ஹிதம் ந்ருணாம் ॥
sa rājarājaḥ bhava satyasaṅgaraḥ
kulaṃ ca ṡīlaṃ ca hi rakṣa janma ca ।
paratravāsē hi vadantyanuttamaṃ
tapōdhanāssatyavacō hitaṃ nṛṇām ॥
Being the king of kings that you are,
may you adhere to your word!
May you uphold the repute of
your character and that of your lineage!
The people enriched with Tapa assert that
adherence to truth is second to none,
in leading one to a better after life!
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே வால்மீகீயே ஆதிகாவ்யே
அயோத்யாகாண்டே ஏகாதஸஸ்ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē
ayōdhyākāṇḍē ēkādaṡassargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the eleventh Sarga
in Ayōdhyā Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Vālmeeki.
You have just completed reading 2704 Ṡlōkas out of ~24,000 Ṡlōkas of Vālmeeki Rāmāyaṇa.
Meaning, notes and commentary by: Krishna Sharma.