Ayodhya Curses the Fire Kindled beneath Its Own Roof
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 47
Doha 47 · Movement 1 of 2
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Throughout Ayodhya, people curse Kaikeyi and ask what force possessed the woman who once loved Ram as her own breath. She seems to have set fire to the roof sheltering her and cut the branch upon which she sits.
Citizens compare her choice to casting away nectar for poison and tearing out one's own eyes before wishing to see. In the bamboo grove of Raghu's line, one spark has become wildfire.
Their grief reaches for explanation and finds none. Love had appeared secure, then crookedness emerged from an unseen depth. The city's harsh speech reveals bewilderment as much as blame: how could the heart reverse itself so completely within one night?
Ayodhya looks upon its burning shelter and cannot understand the hand that carried the flame.
Read the passage from the Manas
मिलेहि माझ बिधि बात बेगारी। जहँ तहँ देहिं कैकेइहि गारी।। एहि पापिनिहि बूझि का परेऊ। छाइ भवन पर पावकु धरेऊ।। निज कर नयन काढ़ि चह दीखा। डारि सुधा बिषु चाहत चीखा।। कुटिल कठोर कुबुद्धि अभागी। भइ रघुबंस बेनु बन आगी।। पालव बैठि पेड़ु एहिं काटा। सुख महुँ सोक ठाटु धरि ठाटा।। सदा रामु एहि प्रान समाना। कारन कवन कुटिलपनु ठाना।। सत्य कहहिं कबि नारि सुभाऊ। सब बिधि अगहु अगाध दुराऊ।। निज प्रतिबिंबु बरुकु गहि जाई। जानि न जाइ नारि गति भाई।।
Fate has brought about this wretched affair. Everywhere, people heap curses upon Kaikeyi. What possessed this sinful woman? She has set fire to the very roof that sheltered her. With her own hands she plucks out her eyes, then wishes to see. She has cast away nectar and chosen to swallow poison. Crooked, hard-hearted, evil-minded, and luckless, she has become a wildfire in the bamboo grove of Raghu's lineage. Sitting upon the branch, she has cut down the tree itself. In the midst of joy, she has planted sorrow with both hands. Rama was always as dear to her as her own breath. What reason drove her to such crookedness? Poets speak truly of a woman's nature: it is unfathomable, deep, and mysterious in every way. One might perhaps catch hold of one's own shadow, but the ways of women, O brother, cannot be known.