Passage 1
तं यथावन्मिलित्वा सा कैकेयी स्नेहसंयुता। पप्रच्छ कुशलं भ्रातुः स यथावन्निवेद्य च॥१॥
Kaikeyī met him with apparent affection and asked about her brother’s welfare. Bharata duly told her that all was well.
Passage 2
पप्रच्छ तां विशेषेण पुरे शोकस्य कारणम्। पितरं भ्रातरौ चैव मातरं चैव जानकीम्॥२॥
He then questioned her closely about the city’s grief and about his father, his two brothers, his mothers, and Jānakī.
Passage 3
तमुवाचाथ कैकेयी राज्यलुब्धा प्रहर्षिणी। प्ररोचयन्ती हृदयं वृत्तं शोकस्य कारणम्॥३॥
Greedy for the kingdom and inwardly delighted, Kaikeyī sought to please his heart as she told him what had caused the mourning.
Passage 4
लयं गतस्ते जनको महात्मा भूरिदक्षिणः। महामखो धर्मनिधिः परत्रेह च सौख्यकृत्॥४॥
“Your noble father has passed away. Lavish in gifts and mighty in sacrifice, that treasury of dharma brought happiness in this world and the next.”
Passage 5
एवं स्थितेऽधुना तात भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यमकण्टकम्। इत्युक्तः स जनन्याथ मूर्छितः पितृशोकतः॥५॥
“Since matters stand thus, son, enjoy the kingdom without a rival.” At his mother’s words, Bharata fainted from grief for his father.
Passage 6
पपात धरणीपृष्ठे स्वश्च्युतश्चन्द्रमा इव। उत्थापितः स कैकेय्या दोर्भ्यामादाय यत्नतः॥६॥
He fell upon the ground like the moon fallen from heaven. Kaikeyī took him in her arms and struggled to lift him.
Passage 7
हा तातेति चिरं शोकाद् रुरोद भरतस्तदा। विललाप ततो भूयो गुणान् संकीर्तयन् पितुः॥७॥
“Alas, Father!” Bharata wept for a long time in grief, then lamented again while recounting his father’s virtues.
Passage 8
उवाच जननीं पश्चाद् दुःखसम्प्लुतमानसः। समाध्यवसरे तात किमुवाच तदीरय॥८॥
His mind flooded with pain, he finally said to his mother, “Tell me what Father said at the moment of his death.”
Passage 9
कथं समाधिं सम्प्राप्तः पिता मे सर्वशक्तिभृत्। इत्युक्ता भरतेनेधा कैकेयी वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥९॥
“How did my all-powerful father enter his final absorption?” Thus questioned by Bharata, Kaikeyī spoke.
Passage 10
रामस्य विरहस्तप्तः पिता ते विलयं गतः। हा राम राम रामेति विलपन् शोकसंवृतः॥१०॥
“Tormented by separation from Rāma, your father died. Overwhelmed by grief, he lamented, ‘Alas, Rāma! Rāma! Rāma!’”
Passage 11
उवाच सोऽन्तावसरे तत्पुत्र त्वं निशामय। धन्यास्ते पुण्यकर्माणो रामं द्रक्ष्यन्ति ये जनाः॥११॥
“Listen, son, to what he said at the end: ‘Blessed and meritorious are those people who will behold Rāma—
Passage 12
जानकीं लक्ष्मणं चैव वनवासात् समागतान्। तान् ये द्रक्ष्यन्ति मनुजास्तेषां भाग्यं महत्तमम्॥१२॥
“‘—Jānakī, and Lakṣmaṇa when they return from forest exile. The fortune of the people who see them will be supreme.’”
Passage 13
एवं रटन् भवत्तातो निरुच्छ्वासो लयं गतः। रामस्तु सह वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणेन च साधुना॥१३॥
“Repeating this, your father ceased breathing and passed away. As for Rāma, he went with Vaidehī and noble Lakṣmaṇa—
Passage 14
जगाम विपिनं घोरं चरन् धर्ममतन्द्रितः। जटाधरश्चीरवासा दिव्यतापसवेषभृत्॥१४॥
“—to the dreadful forest, steadfastly following dharma. He wears matted locks and bark cloth in the sacred dress of an ascetic.
Passage 15
वने वसति धर्मात्मा यस्य शोकान्मृतो नृपः। इत्युक्तो भरतो मात्रा भूयस्तामाह दुःखितः॥१५॥
“That righteous prince now lives in the forest, and grief for him killed the king.” Hearing this from his mother, the distressed Bharata questioned her again.
Passage 16
किं कृतं तेन मे भ्रात्रा यतोऽसौ विपिनं गतः। कच्चिन्निहतवान् विप्रमतिचक्राम वा गुरून्॥१६॥
“What did my brother do that sent him to the forest? Did he kill a brāhmaṇa or transgress against his elders?
Passage 17
कच्चित्स परदारान् वा मनसापि समस्पृशत्। कच्चिद्वान्यत्कृतं पापं येनार्यो विपिनं गतः॥१७॥
“Did he even mentally approach another man’s wife? Did the noble prince commit some other sin for which he went to the wilderness?”
Passage 18
ततोऽब्रवीत्तं कैकेयी न तेन ब्राह्मणो हतः। न वान्यद्विहितं पापं तेन धर्मैकमूर्तिना॥१८॥
Kaikeyī replied, “He killed no brāhmaṇa, nor did that embodiment of dharma commit any other sin.
Passage 19
जितेन्द्रियः सदाचारः साधुकर्मा सतां मतः। वेदशास्त्रैकविज्ञाता साधुकर्मा रघूद्वहः॥१९॥
“He has mastered his senses, lives righteously, performs noble deeds, and is honored by the good. The heir of Raghu knows the Veda and śāstra and acts only for the good.” Kaikeyī Tells of the Two Boons
Passage 20
ममैव कर्मणा रामो वनं यातः शृणुष्व तत्। यौवराज्याभिषेकाय रामस्य कृतवान् धियम्॥२०॥
“Rāma went to the forest through my act alone; hear how it happened. Your father resolved to consecrate Rāma as heir apparent.
Passage 21
पिता ते साधुहृदयो मुनीनाकार्य मन्त्रिकान्। तदा मया कृतो विघ्नस्तव स्नेहेन भूयसा॥२१॥
“Your good-hearted father summoned the sages and ministers. Out of my great affection for you, I then obstructed the consecration.
Passage 22
प्राग्दत्तमहमस्मार्षं राज्यलुब्धा वरद्वयम्। यावत्पञ्चदशाब्दानि रामस्य वनवासनम्॥२२॥
“Desiring the kingdom, I recalled the two boons he had granted me long ago. By one I asked that Rāma dwell in the forest for fifteen years.
Passage 23
एकेन याचितवती द्वितीयेन च पुत्रक। तव सर्वमहीराज्यं स्नेहात्प्रार्थितवत्यहम्॥२३॥
“With the second boon, son, I lovingly requested sovereignty over the whole earth for you.
Passage 24
इति ते सर्वमुदितं यथा रामो वनं गतः। यथा च तद्वियोगेन पिता ते मरणं गतः॥२४॥
“Thus I have told you everything: how Rāma went to the forest and how your father died from separation from him.
Passage 25
त्वदर्थं सर्वमेवैतन्निष्ठुरं रचितं मया। जानन्त्यापि हितं रामं सर्वत्रैलोक्यरञ्जनम्॥२५॥
“I arranged this entire harsh affair for your sake, although I knew Rāma to be benevolent and the delight of all three worlds—
Passage 26
महाभावं महाशीलं धर्मनिष्ठं सतां गतिम्। त्वयि संस्निग्धमनसा कृतमेतन्मयाखिलम्॥२६॥
“—noble-minded, of exalted character, devoted to dharma, and the refuge of the good. I did all of it because my heart was deeply attached to you.
Passage 27
स त्वं शोकं परित्यज्य पितुस्त्रिदिववासिनः। भ्रातुश्च सानुजस्यैव सभार्यस्य वनस्थितेः॥२७॥
“Therefore cast off grief for your father, who now dwells in heaven, and for your brother, who remains in the forest with his wife and younger brother.
Passage 28
पितृपैतामहं राज्यं भुङ्क्ष्व भोगांस्तथोज्ज्वलान्। यदर्थं क्षत्रिया युद्धे सज्जन्ते त्यक्तजीविताः॥२८॥
“Enjoy your fathers’ and forefathers’ kingdom and its splendid pleasures—the prize for which warriors enter battle ready to give their lives.
Passage 29
तत्ते करतलं राज्यमनायासेन पुत्रक। भुङ्क्ष्व मद्बुद्धिविहितं भोगयुक्तमकण्टकम्॥२९॥
“That kingdom now lies effortlessly in your hand, son. Enjoy the unchallenged, pleasure-filled sovereignty secured through my design.” Bharata Condemns Her Deed
Passage 30
निशम्य क्रूरं जननीभाषितं भरतस्तदा। करौ संताड्य धरणीं विक्रुद्धधीरिदमब्रवीत्॥३०॥
Hearing his mother’s cruel speech, Bharata struck both hands upon the earth and spoke with a mind blazing in anger.
Passage 31
अयि क्रूरतरे धीरे घोरपातककारिणि। किमिदं विहितं घोरं त्वया कुटिलचित्तया॥३१॥
“Cruel, hard-hearted perpetrator of dreadful sin! What horror has your crooked mind brought about?
Passage 32
रामस्यैवाखिलं राज्यमहं रामस्य सेवकः। त्वया स्नेहं विजानन्त्या विप्रियं रचितं मम॥३२॥
“The whole kingdom belongs to Rāma, and I am Rāma’s servant. Although you knew my love for him, you did what is hateful to me.
Passage 33
त्यक्तधर्मा वीतदया निर्लज्जा पापकारिणी। पतिहन्त्री घोरकर्मा किमिदं त्वमुपाचरः॥३३॥
“Abandoning dharma, devoid of compassion, shameless and sinful, you have killed your husband. What dreadful deed have you done?
Passage 34
हा हा हतोऽस्मि पापिष्ठे त्वया कुलकलङ्कया। तव बुद्ध्यातिकुटिले ममापि भ्रंशिता गुणाः॥३४॥
“Alas, most sinful stain upon the family, you have destroyed me! Through your utterly crooked design, my own good name has also been ruined.
Passage 35
हा हा हतोऽस्मि दग्धोऽस्मि दूषितोऽस्मि त्वया खले। अहं प्राणान् विमोक्ष्यामि मां विना त्वं भविष्यसि॥३५॥
“Alas, wicked woman, you have slain, burned, and defiled me. I shall give up my life, and you will remain without me.
Passage 36
किं तेऽपराद्धं पापिष्ठे भर्त्रा तेन महात्मना। रामेण वानुकूलेन त्वं तयोर्यत्थाचरः॥३६॥
“Most sinful woman, how did that noble husband wrong you? How did the ever gracious Rāma offend you, that you treated them both this way?
Passage 37
ब्रह्महत्यां भ्रूणहत्यां गोहत्यां गोहत्यां चातिकुत्सिताम्। तथान्यघोरपापानि भवती न चकार किम्॥३७॥
“What terrible sin have you not committed—killing a brāhmaṇa, killing an unborn child, the most abominable slaughter of cows, and every other horror?
Passage 38
प्रवासितवती रामं यस्मात्त्वमनपराधिनम्। तद्वियोगेन घोरेण पतिं च समघातयः॥३८॥
“You exiled the blameless Rāma, and through the terrible separation from him you killed your husband as well.
Passage 39
गन्तासि नरकं घोरं पापेनानेन दूषिता। अयं चैव परो लोकस्त्वया नाशित आत्मनः॥३९॥
“Defiled by this sin, you will go to a dreadful hell. You have destroyed for yourself both this world and the next.
Passage 40
किं मे राज्येन किं भोगैः किं प्राणैः किं पुनस्त्वया। प्रवासिते वनं रामे ताते लयगतेऽधुना॥४०॥
“What use have I for a kingdom, pleasures, life itself, or even you, now that Rāma has been exiled to the forest and Father is dead?
Passage 41
सर्वं मे दुःसहं लोके जीवितुं चापि नोत्सहे। पापं कृतवतीमेवं त्वामहं हन्मि निश्चितम्॥४१॥
“Everything in this world is unbearable to me, and I have no will to live. For committing such a sin, I ought surely to kill you.
Passage 42
परित्यजेत्तु मां रामो मातृहत्याविदूषितम्। तत एव दुराचारे मुञ्चामि त्वां कृतागसाम्॥४२॥
“But Rāma would reject me as one stained by matricide. Only for that reason, wicked woman, do I spare you despite your offense.
Passage 43
ईदृग्विधापकारिण्या नेक्षिष्ये वदनं तव। किमर्थं रक्षिता पापा मम पित्रा त्वमीदृशी॥४३॥
“I shall not look upon the face of one who has inflicted such injury. Why did my father preserve so sinful a woman as you?
Passage 44
व्यालीव गरलोद्गारकारिणी पापचारिणी। धिक् त्वामेवंविधां क्रूरां नृणामत्यधमाधमाम्॥४४॥
“Sinful in conduct, you spew venom like a serpent. Shame upon one so cruel, the lowest of the low among human beings!
Passage 45
न त्वं धर्मात्मनः पुत्री कैकयेन्द्रस्य धीमतः। पापिष्ठा दुष्टधीः क्रूरा राक्षसस्यासि वीर्यजा॥४५॥
“You cannot be the daughter of the righteous and wise Kekaya king. Sinful, cruel, and evil-minded, you must have sprung from a demon’s power.
Passage 46
त्वं राक्षसी न सन्देहः पुत्रघ्नी पतिघातिनी। यया वियोजितो रामः कल्याणगुणवारिधिः॥४६॥
“Without doubt you are a demoness, destroyer of your son and killer of your husband, for you banished Rāma, the ocean of auspicious virtues. Bharata Vows to Restore Rāma
Passage 47
रामं निवर्तयिष्यामि विज्ञाप्य वनवासतः। भक्तिं तस्य करिष्यामि नान्यथा जीवनं मम॥४७॥
“I shall supplicate Rāma and bring him back from his forest exile. I shall serve him devotedly; otherwise there is no life for me.
Passage 48
अविज्ञाय कृतं कर्म मामकं हृदयं त्वया। तत्फलं भोक्ष्यसे क्रूरे त्यक्तासि त्वं भृशं मया॥४८॥
“You acted without understanding my heart. Cruel woman, you will reap the fruit of that deed: from this moment I utterly reject you.
Passage 49
अहं वत्स्यामि विपिने यावत्पञ्चदशाब्दकम्। रामं राज्ये करिष्यामि प्रार्थयित्वा विशेषतः॥४९॥
“I shall live in the forest for fifteen years. I shall earnestly entreat Rāma and install him in the kingdom.
Passage 50
त्वया पातककारिण्या साधुस्नेहः कृतो मयि। प्राणेष्वपि च सन्देहः पातितो मम यत्त्वया॥५०॥
“Sinful woman, by your deed you have made good people suspicious of my love, and you have even cast my very life into uncertainty.”
Passage 51
इत्येवं जननीं विगर्हितवता संजातभूयः शुचा हा तातेति चिरं विलप्य भरतेनातीव तापः कृतः। निःश्वस्याश्रुपरीतलोचनयुगेनोत्क्षिप्तहस्तद्वयी भूयस्ताडितवक्षसा बहुतरं सोत्तापमाक्रन्दितम्॥५१॥
Having condemned his mother in this way, Bharata’s grief surged anew. He lamented “Alas, Father!” for a long time in unbearable pain. Sighing, both eyes flooded with tears and both hands raised, he beat his chest again and cried out in consuming anguish.