Created by : Asharfi Lal Mishra
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| Asharfi Lal Mishra |
||RAMAYANA||
(Condensed)
*AYODHYAKANDA*
[Poet: Valmiki]
continue from page-1
ज्ञातदासी यतो जाता कैकेय्यास्तु सहोषिता।
प्रासादं चंद्रसंकाशमारुरोह यदृच्छया।।
A slave-maid of Kaikeyi's family , who was living with her , came up to the palace, bright like moon, by chance.
प्रहृष्टमुदितैः पौरैरुच्छ्रितध्वजमालिनीम।
अयोध्या मन्थरा दृष्ट्वा परं विस्मयभागता।
अविदूरे स्थितां दृष्ट्वा धात्रीं पप्रच्छ मन्थरा।
अतिमात्रप्रहर्षोSयं किं जनस्य च शंस मे।।
Seeing Ayodhya filled with happy and rejoicing citizens and with flags and festoons flying high , the crooked Manthara was overcome with great wonder .
Seeing the nurse standing not far distantly , Manthara asked her : " What is this unmeasured joy of the people ? Tell me ."
विदीर्यमाणा हर्षेण धात्री तु परया मुदा।
आचचक्षेSथ कुब्जायै भूयसीं राघवश्रियम।।
The nurse bursting with supreme delight , related to the humped-backed Manthara , the rising fortuneof Raghava .
धात्र्यास्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा मन्थरा पापदर्शिनी।
शयानामेत्य कैकेयीमिदं वचनमब्रवीत।।
But hearing the nurse's words , Manthara of evil intent , approached the reposing Kaikeyi and said these words:
Manthara advises Kaikeyi
उत्तिष्ठ मूढ़े किं शेषे सौभाग्येन विकत्थसे।
चलं हि तव सौभाग्यं नद्याः स्रोत ईवोष्णगे।।
Rise O fool ! Why are you abed ? Why do you boast of your good fortune ? For your good fortune is as unsteady as river currents in summer .
रामं दशरथो राजा यौवराज्येSभिषेक्ष्यति।
उग्रत्वं राजधर्माणां कथं देवि न बुध्यसे।।
King Dasharatha is going to anoint Rama as Yuvaraja . How is it ,O queen , you do not understand cruelty to be one of the attributes of kings ?
धर्मवादी शठो भर्ता श्लक्षणवादी च दारुणः।
शुद्धभावेन जानीषे तेनैवमतिसन्धिता।।
Your husband indulges in righteous talk , but he is crafty ; he indulges in gentle talk but he is cruel . You think him to be of pure heart , and that is why you have been betrayed.
अपवाह्य स दुष्टात्मा भरतं तव बन्धुषु।
काल्ये स्थापयिता रामं राज्ये निहतकण्टके।।
That evil-minded king , after sending away Bharata to your relatives , is going, early in the morning ,to install Rama in the kingdom , thus rid of all obstacles ."
मन्थराया वचः श्रुत्वा कैकेयी विस्मयान्विता।
दत्त्वा त्वाभरणं तस्यै पुनरेवाब्रवीदिदम।।
Hearing the words of Manthara and presenting her with an ornament , Kaikeyi with grat wonder , addressed her again thus.
इदं तु मन्थरे मह्यमाख्यासि परमं प्रियम।
रामे वा भरते वाSहं विशेषं नोपलक्षये।।
" O Manthara ! What you now say is indeed highly pleasing to me . I don't see any distinction between Rama and Bharata .
धर्मज्ञो गुरुभिर्दान्तः कृतज्ञः सत्यवाक शुचिः।
रामो राज्ञः सुतो ज्येष्ठो यौवराज्यमतोSर्हति।।
He (Rama) is well-versed in dharma, well-disciplined by teachers , grateful, of true speech and pure heart .Rama, being the king's eldest son , deserves therefore to be Yuvaraja.
यथा मे भरतो मान्यस्तथा भूयोSपि राघवः।
कौसल्यातोSतिरिक्तं च स तु शुश्रूषते हि माम।।
As Bharata is to be cherished by me , much more so indeed is Raghava . For he attends on me with greater devotion than he does on Kausalya .
राज्यं यदि हि रामस्य भरतस्यापि तत्तदा।
मन्यते हि यथाSSत्मानं तथा भ्रातृस्तु राघवः।।
If the kingdom goes to Rama , then it goes to Bharata too. For, Rama considers his brothers as his very self ."
कैकेय्या वचनं श्रुत्वा मन्थरा भृशदुःखिता।
दीर्घमुष्णं विनिश्वस्य कैकेयीमिदमब्रवीत।।
Hearing the words of Kaikeyi , Manthara , greatly distressed and heaving a long and hot sigh , spoke thus to Kaikeyi:
भविता राघवो राजा राघवस्यानु यः सुतः।
राजबंशात्तु कैकेयि भरतः परिहास्यते।
तस्माद्राजगृहादेव वनं गच्छतु ते सुतः।।
Raghava will become the king ; and after Raghava , he who is his son ; O Kaikeyi ! Bharata will be expelled from the kingly line . Therefore , let your son repair to the forest from the royal residence.
दर्पान्निराकृता पूर्वं त्वया सौभाग्यवत्तया।
राममाता सपत्नी ते कथं वैरं न यातयेत।।
Supplanted by you in early days through arrogance on account of your good fortune, why will not your co-wife , the mother of Rama, wreak her hatred on you in return.
श्रुत्यैव वचनं तस्या मन्थरायास्तु कैकेयी।
किञ्चिदुत्थाय शयनात स्वास्तीर्णादिदमब्रवीत।।
On hearing the words of Manthara ,Kaikeyi , rising up a little from her well-spread bed , said this :
कथय त्वं ममोपायं केनोपायेन मन्थरे।
भरतः प्राप्नुयाद्राज्यं न तु रामः कथञ्चन।।
' Tell me a plan , By what plan ,O Manthara , will Bharata get the kingdom , but not Rama , in any case ? "
एवमुक्ता तथा देव्या कुब्जा वचनमब्रवीत।।
Being told thus by the queen , the hump-backed (Manthara) spoke these words :
क्रोधागारं प्रविश्याद्य क्रुद्धेवाश्वपतेः सुते।
शेष्वानन्तर्हितायां त्वं भूमौ मलिनवासिनी।।
" O daughter of Asvapati , enter now the house of anger and lie down , clad in dirty clothes , on the bare earth , like an angry woman .
दयिता त्वं सदा भर्तुस्तत्र मे नास्ति संशयः।
त्वत्कृते स महाराजो विशेदपि हुताशनम।।
You are always the darling of your husband . Of this I have no doubt . For your sake , that great king may even enter the fire.
न त्वां क्रोधयितुं शक्तो न क्रुद्धां प्रत्युदीक्षितुम।
तव प्रियार्थं राजा हि प्राणानपि परित्यजेत।।
He is not capable of making you angry nor can he took you in the face when angry . To please you , the king would indeed give up even his own life .
यौ तौ दैवासुरे युद्धे वरौ दशरथोSददात।
तौ स्मारय महाभागे त्वमिमं वृणुया वरम।।
Those two boons that Dasharatha gave you in the war between the Gods and the Asuras --O exalted Lady , remind him of those two and choose this for your boon .
रामं प्रवाजयारण्ये नव वर्षाणि पञ्च च।
भरतः क्रियतां राजा पृथिव्याः पार्थिवर्षभः।।
' Banish Rama to the forest for nine years and five . Let Bharata , O foremost of kings , be made the ruler of the earth. '
चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि रामे प्रव्राजिते वनम।
रूढश्च कृतमूलश्च शेषं स्थास्यति ते सुतः।
उत्तिष्ठ कुरु कल्याणं राजानमनुदर्शय।।
For , when Rama is banished to the forest for fourteen years , your son , being well-established and having struck root, can maintain himself afterwards .
Arise , and seek your good . Await the king."
आज्ञाप्य तु महाराजो राघवस्याभिषेचनम।
स कैकेय्या ग्रहश्रेष्ठं प्रविवेश महायशाः।
पाण्डराभ्रमिवाकाशं राहुयुक्तं निशाकरः।।
Having ordered the anointment of Raghava , the great king , of great fame , entered the lovely apartment of Kaikeyi ,like the moon entering the sky covered with white clouds and with Raghu present in it .
स वृद्धस्तरुणीं भार्या प्राणेभ्योSपि गरीयसीम।
अपापः पापसङ्कल्पां ददर्श धरणीतले।।
That old and sinless king saw his young wife , dearer to him than even his own life ( lying) on the floor with a cruel resolve .
परिमृश्य च पाणिभ्यामुवाच वनितामिदम।।
Stroking her with his hands , he said this to his youthful wife :
आत्मनो जीवितेनापि ब्रूहि यन्मनसेच्छसि।
करिष्यामि तव प्रीतिं सुकृतेनापि ते शपे।।
" Tell me what you desire in your mind .With my own life ( if need be )I will do your pleasure .I swear it to you on all my good deeds .
यं मुहूर्तमपश्यंस्तु न जीवेयमहं ध्रुवम।।
तेन रामेण कैकेयि शपे ते वचनक्रियाम।।
Him , without seeing whom even for a short while , I cannot certainly live , by that Rama, O Kaikeyi , I swear to you the fulfilment of my words."
तेन वाक्येन संहृष्टा तमभिप्राय मागतम।
व्याजहार महाघोरमभ्यागतमिवान्तकम।।
Being pleased by that speech , she made plain her intention , highly cruel like Death that had come near.
स्मर राजन पुरा वृत्तं तस्मिन् दैवासुरे रणे।
वरौ यौ मे त्वया देव तदा दत्तौ महीपते।।
' Remember , O king and ruler of the earth , what happened before in that fight between the Gods and Asuras , those two boons which were given me by you.
तौ तावदहमद्यैव वक्ष्यामि शृणु मे वचः।।
I will just mention these two boons even now . Listen to my words:
अनेनैवाभिषेकेण भरतो मेSभिषिच्यताम।
नव पञ्च च वर्षाणि रामो भवतु तापसः।।
" At this very installation , let my my Bharata be installed . For nine and five years , let Rama become an ascetic."
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(Condensed)
*AYODHYAKANDA*
[Poet: Valmiki]
continue from page-1
ज्ञातदासी यतो जाता कैकेय्यास्तु सहोषिता।
प्रासादं चंद्रसंकाशमारुरोह यदृच्छया।।
A slave-maid of Kaikeyi's family , who was living with her , came up to the palace, bright like moon, by chance.
प्रहृष्टमुदितैः पौरैरुच्छ्रितध्वजमालिनीम।
अयोध्या मन्थरा दृष्ट्वा परं विस्मयभागता।
अविदूरे स्थितां दृष्ट्वा धात्रीं पप्रच्छ मन्थरा।
अतिमात्रप्रहर्षोSयं किं जनस्य च शंस मे।।
Seeing Ayodhya filled with happy and rejoicing citizens and with flags and festoons flying high , the crooked Manthara was overcome with great wonder .
Seeing the nurse standing not far distantly , Manthara asked her : " What is this unmeasured joy of the people ? Tell me ."
विदीर्यमाणा हर्षेण धात्री तु परया मुदा।
आचचक्षेSथ कुब्जायै भूयसीं राघवश्रियम।।
The nurse bursting with supreme delight , related to the humped-backed Manthara , the rising fortuneof Raghava .
धात्र्यास्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा मन्थरा पापदर्शिनी।
शयानामेत्य कैकेयीमिदं वचनमब्रवीत।।
But hearing the nurse's words , Manthara of evil intent , approached the reposing Kaikeyi and said these words:
उत्तिष्ठ मूढ़े किं शेषे सौभाग्येन विकत्थसे।
चलं हि तव सौभाग्यं नद्याः स्रोत ईवोष्णगे।।
Rise O fool ! Why are you abed ? Why do you boast of your good fortune ? For your good fortune is as unsteady as river currents in summer .
रामं दशरथो राजा यौवराज्येSभिषेक्ष्यति।
उग्रत्वं राजधर्माणां कथं देवि न बुध्यसे।।
King Dasharatha is going to anoint Rama as Yuvaraja . How is it ,O queen , you do not understand cruelty to be one of the attributes of kings ?
धर्मवादी शठो भर्ता श्लक्षणवादी च दारुणः।
शुद्धभावेन जानीषे तेनैवमतिसन्धिता।।
Your husband indulges in righteous talk , but he is crafty ; he indulges in gentle talk but he is cruel . You think him to be of pure heart , and that is why you have been betrayed.
अपवाह्य स दुष्टात्मा भरतं तव बन्धुषु।
काल्ये स्थापयिता रामं राज्ये निहतकण्टके।।
That evil-minded king , after sending away Bharata to your relatives , is going, early in the morning ,to install Rama in the kingdom , thus rid of all obstacles ."
मन्थराया वचः श्रुत्वा कैकेयी विस्मयान्विता।
दत्त्वा त्वाभरणं तस्यै पुनरेवाब्रवीदिदम।।
Hearing the words of Manthara and presenting her with an ornament , Kaikeyi with grat wonder , addressed her again thus.
इदं तु मन्थरे मह्यमाख्यासि परमं प्रियम।
रामे वा भरते वाSहं विशेषं नोपलक्षये।।
" O Manthara ! What you now say is indeed highly pleasing to me . I don't see any distinction between Rama and Bharata .
धर्मज्ञो गुरुभिर्दान्तः कृतज्ञः सत्यवाक शुचिः।
रामो राज्ञः सुतो ज्येष्ठो यौवराज्यमतोSर्हति।।
He (Rama) is well-versed in dharma, well-disciplined by teachers , grateful, of true speech and pure heart .Rama, being the king's eldest son , deserves therefore to be Yuvaraja.
यथा मे भरतो मान्यस्तथा भूयोSपि राघवः।
कौसल्यातोSतिरिक्तं च स तु शुश्रूषते हि माम।।
As Bharata is to be cherished by me , much more so indeed is Raghava . For he attends on me with greater devotion than he does on Kausalya .
राज्यं यदि हि रामस्य भरतस्यापि तत्तदा।
मन्यते हि यथाSSत्मानं तथा भ्रातृस्तु राघवः।।
If the kingdom goes to Rama , then it goes to Bharata too. For, Rama considers his brothers as his very self ."
कैकेय्या वचनं श्रुत्वा मन्थरा भृशदुःखिता।
दीर्घमुष्णं विनिश्वस्य कैकेयीमिदमब्रवीत।।
Hearing the words of Kaikeyi , Manthara , greatly distressed and heaving a long and hot sigh , spoke thus to Kaikeyi:
भविता राघवो राजा राघवस्यानु यः सुतः।
राजबंशात्तु कैकेयि भरतः परिहास्यते।
तस्माद्राजगृहादेव वनं गच्छतु ते सुतः।।
Raghava will become the king ; and after Raghava , he who is his son ; O Kaikeyi ! Bharata will be expelled from the kingly line . Therefore , let your son repair to the forest from the royal residence.
दर्पान्निराकृता पूर्वं त्वया सौभाग्यवत्तया।
राममाता सपत्नी ते कथं वैरं न यातयेत।।
Supplanted by you in early days through arrogance on account of your good fortune, why will not your co-wife , the mother of Rama, wreak her hatred on you in return.
श्रुत्यैव वचनं तस्या मन्थरायास्तु कैकेयी।
किञ्चिदुत्थाय शयनात स्वास्तीर्णादिदमब्रवीत।।
On hearing the words of Manthara ,Kaikeyi , rising up a little from her well-spread bed , said this :
कथय त्वं ममोपायं केनोपायेन मन्थरे।
भरतः प्राप्नुयाद्राज्यं न तु रामः कथञ्चन।।
' Tell me a plan , By what plan ,O Manthara , will Bharata get the kingdom , but not Rama , in any case ? "
एवमुक्ता तथा देव्या कुब्जा वचनमब्रवीत।।
Being told thus by the queen , the hump-backed (Manthara) spoke these words :
क्रोधागारं प्रविश्याद्य क्रुद्धेवाश्वपतेः सुते।
शेष्वानन्तर्हितायां त्वं भूमौ मलिनवासिनी।।
" O daughter of Asvapati , enter now the house of anger and lie down , clad in dirty clothes , on the bare earth , like an angry woman .
दयिता त्वं सदा भर्तुस्तत्र मे नास्ति संशयः।
त्वत्कृते स महाराजो विशेदपि हुताशनम।।
You are always the darling of your husband . Of this I have no doubt . For your sake , that great king may even enter the fire.
न त्वां क्रोधयितुं शक्तो न क्रुद्धां प्रत्युदीक्षितुम।
तव प्रियार्थं राजा हि प्राणानपि परित्यजेत।।
He is not capable of making you angry nor can he took you in the face when angry . To please you , the king would indeed give up even his own life .
यौ तौ दैवासुरे युद्धे वरौ दशरथोSददात।
तौ स्मारय महाभागे त्वमिमं वृणुया वरम।।
Those two boons that Dasharatha gave you in the war between the Gods and the Asuras --O exalted Lady , remind him of those two and choose this for your boon .
रामं प्रवाजयारण्ये नव वर्षाणि पञ्च च।
भरतः क्रियतां राजा पृथिव्याः पार्थिवर्षभः।।
' Banish Rama to the forest for nine years and five . Let Bharata , O foremost of kings , be made the ruler of the earth. '
चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि रामे प्रव्राजिते वनम।
रूढश्च कृतमूलश्च शेषं स्थास्यति ते सुतः।
उत्तिष्ठ कुरु कल्याणं राजानमनुदर्शय।।
For , when Rama is banished to the forest for fourteen years , your son , being well-established and having struck root, can maintain himself afterwards .
Arise , and seek your good . Await the king."
आज्ञाप्य तु महाराजो राघवस्याभिषेचनम।
स कैकेय्या ग्रहश्रेष्ठं प्रविवेश महायशाः।
पाण्डराभ्रमिवाकाशं राहुयुक्तं निशाकरः।।
Having ordered the anointment of Raghava , the great king , of great fame , entered the lovely apartment of Kaikeyi ,like the moon entering the sky covered with white clouds and with Raghu present in it .
स वृद्धस्तरुणीं भार्या प्राणेभ्योSपि गरीयसीम।
अपापः पापसङ्कल्पां ददर्श धरणीतले।।
That old and sinless king saw his young wife , dearer to him than even his own life ( lying) on the floor with a cruel resolve .
परिमृश्य च पाणिभ्यामुवाच वनितामिदम।।
Stroking her with his hands , he said this to his youthful wife :
आत्मनो जीवितेनापि ब्रूहि यन्मनसेच्छसि।
करिष्यामि तव प्रीतिं सुकृतेनापि ते शपे।।
" Tell me what you desire in your mind .With my own life ( if need be )I will do your pleasure .I swear it to you on all my good deeds .
यं मुहूर्तमपश्यंस्तु न जीवेयमहं ध्रुवम।।
तेन रामेण कैकेयि शपे ते वचनक्रियाम।।
Him , without seeing whom even for a short while , I cannot certainly live , by that Rama, O Kaikeyi , I swear to you the fulfilment of my words."
तेन वाक्येन संहृष्टा तमभिप्राय मागतम।
व्याजहार महाघोरमभ्यागतमिवान्तकम।।
Being pleased by that speech , she made plain her intention , highly cruel like Death that had come near.
स्मर राजन पुरा वृत्तं तस्मिन् दैवासुरे रणे।
वरौ यौ मे त्वया देव तदा दत्तौ महीपते।।
' Remember , O king and ruler of the earth , what happened before in that fight between the Gods and Asuras , those two boons which were given me by you.
तौ तावदहमद्यैव वक्ष्यामि शृणु मे वचः।।
I will just mention these two boons even now . Listen to my words:
अनेनैवाभिषेकेण भरतो मेSभिषिच्यताम।
नव पञ्च च वर्षाणि रामो भवतु तापसः।।
" At this very installation , let my my Bharata be installed . For nine and five years , let Rama become an ascetic."
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