Shatrughna Seizes Manthara and Threatens to Punish Her

अत्र यात्राम् समीहन्तम् शत्रुघ्नः लक्ष्मण अनुजः | भरतम् शोक सम्तप्तम् इदम् वचनम् अब्रवीत् || २-७८-१

atra yaatraam samiihantam shatrughnaH lakShmaNa anujaH | bharatam shoka samtaptam idam vacanam abraviit || 2-78-1

Thereafter, Shatrughna the younger brother of Lakshmana spoke the following words to Bharata, who was tormented with grief and who desired to undertake an expedition to Rama.

गतिर् यः सर्व भूतानाम् दुह्खे किम् पुनर् आत्मनः | स रामः सत्त्व सम्पन्नः स्त्रिया प्रव्राजितः वनम् || २-७८-२

gatir yaH sarva bhuutaanaam duhkhe kim punar aatmanaH | sa raamaH sattva sampannaH striyaa pravraajitaH vanam || 2-78-2

"When that even-minded Rama is a refuge for all beings, how much more to tell about our seeking solace to him in our grief? He has been abandoned to the forest by a woman."

बलवान् वीर्य सम्पन्नो लक्ष्मणो नाम यो अपि असौ | किम् न मोचयते रामम् कृत्वा अपि पितृ निग्रहम् || २-७८-३

balavaan viirya sampanno lakShmaNo naama yo api asau | kim na mocayate raamam kR^itvaa api pitR^i nigraham || 2-78-3

"Why the so-called Lakshmana, the strong and powerful man, even could not rescue Rama from distress by making our father to restrain from doing it?"

पूर्वम् एव तु निग्राह्यः समवेक्ष्य नय अनयौ | उत्पथम् यः समारूढो नार्या राजा वशम् गतः || २-७८-४

puurvam eva tu nigraahyaH samavekShya naya anayau | utpatham yaH samaaruuDho naaryaa raajaa vasham gataH || 2-78-4

"By perceiving the prudence and imprudence in that wrong course adopted by the king, who has fallen into the clutches of a woman, Lakshmana should have restrained Dasaratha even at the beginning itself."

इति सम्भाषमाणे तु शत्रुघ्ने लक्ष्मण अनुजे | प्राग् द्वारे अभूत् तदा कुब्जा सर्व आभरण भूषिता || २-७८-५

iti sambhaaShamaaNe tu shatrughne lakShmaNa anuje | praag dvaare abhuut tadaa kubjaa sarva aabharaNa bhuuShitaa || 2-78-5

While Shatrughna the younger brother of Lakshmana was talking thus, the hump-backed Manthara duly adorned with all types of ornaments, appeared at the eastern gate.

लिप्ता चन्दन सारेण राज वस्त्राणि बिभ्रती | विविधम् विविधैस्तैस्तैर्भूषणैश्च विभूषिता || २-७८-६

liptaa candana saareNa raaja vastraaNi bibhratii | vividham vividhaistaistairbhuuShaNaishca vibhuuShitaa || 2-78-6

Anointed with a scent of sandal-wood and wearing royal clothes, she was bedecked with several kinds of ornaments of every description in various ways.

मेखला दामभिः चित्रै रज्जु बद्धा इव वानरी | बभासे बहुभिर्बद्धा रज्जुबद्देव वानरी || २-७८-७

mekhalaa daamabhiH citrai rajju baddhaa iva vaanarii | babhaase bahubhirbaddhaa rajjubaddeva vaanarii || 2-78-7

Studded with bright-coloured girdle-bands and many other excellent ornaments, Manthara appeared like a female-monkey tied with ropes!

ताम् समीक्ष्य तदा द्वाह्स्थो भृशम् पापस्य कारिणीम् | गृहीत्वा अकरुणम् कुब्जाम् शत्रुघ्नाय न्यवेदयत् || २-७८-८

taam samiikShya tadaa dvaahstho bhR^isham paapasya kaariNiim | gR^ihiitvaa akaruNam kubjaam shatrughnaaya nyavedayat || 2-78-8

Beholding that hump-backed Manthara, the very much sinful and insensitive woman, the door-keepers caught her and delivered her to Shatrughna (with the following words:)

यस्याः कृते वने रामः न्यस्त देहः च वः पिता | सा इयम् पापा नृशंसा च तस्याः कुरु यथा मति || २-७८-९

yasyaaH kR^ite vane raamaH nyasta dehaH ca vaH pitaa | saa iyam paapaa nR^isha.nsaa ca tasyaaH kuru yathaa mati || 2-78-9

"Here is that sinful and cruel woman, by whose act Rama is in the forest and your father has laid down his body. Do with her, as you consider fitting."

शत्रुघ्नः च तत् आज्ञाय वचनम् भृश दुह्खितः | अन्तः पुर चरान् सर्वान् इति उवाच धृत व्रतः || २-७८-१०

shatrughnaH ca tat aaGYaaya vacanam bhR^isha duhkhitaH | antaH pura caraan sarvaan iti uvaaca dhR^ita vrataH || 2-78-10

Hearing those words, Shatrughna who was very much in grief and was firmly resolute, spoke to all those inmates of that gynaecium, as follows:

तीव्रम् उत्पादितम् दुह्खम् भ्रातृऋणाम् मे तथा पितुः | यया सा इयम् नृशंसस्य कर्मणः फलम् अश्नुताम् || २-७८-११

tiivram utpaaditam duhkham bhraatR^iR^iNaam me tathaa pituH | yayaa saa iyam nR^isha.nsasya karmaNaH phalam ashnutaam || 2-78-11

"Let this woman, who created serious misfortune to my brothers and my father, receive the fruit of her cruel act."

एवम् उक्ता च तेन आशु सखी जन समावृता | गृहीता बलवत् कुब्जा सा तत् गृहम् अनादयत् || २-७८-१२

evam uktaa ca tena aashu sakhii jana samaavR^itaa | gR^ihiitaa balavat kubjaa saa tat gR^iham anaadayat || 2-78-12

Speaking thus in the midst of her companions, he seized that hunch-backed woman with his powerful hand soon and she in turn made that mansion resound with her shrieks.

ततः सुभृश सम्तप्तः तस्याः सर्वः सखी जनः | क्रुद्धम् आज्ञाय शत्रुघ्नम् व्यपलायत सर्वशः || २-७८-१३

tataH subhR^isha samtaptaH tasyaaH sarvaH sakhii janaH | kruddham aaGYaaya shatrughnam vyapalaayata sarvashaH || 2-78-13

Then, her companion, having conceived Shatrughna's anger and extremely agonised as they were, ran away helter-shelter in all directions.

अमन्त्रयत कृत्स्नः च तस्याः सर्व सखी जनः | यथा अयम् समुपक्रान्तः निह्शेषम् नः करिष्यति || २-७८-१४

amantrayata kR^itsnaH ca tasyaaH sarva sakhii janaH | yathaa ayam samupakraantaH nihsheSham naH kariShyati || 2-78-14

All the company of women there surmised as follows : "The way how he is coming up, he will surely slay us all"

सानुक्रोशाम् वदान्याम् च धर्मज्ञाम् च यशस्विनीम् | कौसल्याम् शरणम् यामः सा हि नो अस्तु ध्रुवा गतिः || २-७८-१५

saanukroshaam vadaanyaam ca dharmaGYaam ca yashasviniim | kausalyaam sharaNam yaamaH saa hi no astu dhruvaa gatiH || 2-78-15

"We shall take reguge with the compassionate, magnanimous, virtuous and illustrious Kausalya. Let her be the sure asylum for us."

स च रोषेण ताम्र अक्षः शत्रुघ्नः शत्रु तापनः | विचकर्ष तदा कुब्जाम् क्रोशन्तीम् पृथिवी तले || २-७८-१६

sa ca roSheNa taamra akShaH shatrughnaH shatru taapanaH | vicakarSha tadaa kubjaam kroshantiim pR^ithivii tale || 2-78-16

That Shatrughna, the tormentor of enemies, with his raging red eyes then violently dragged the crying hump-back along the floor.

तस्या हि आकृष्यमाणाया मन्थरायाः ततः ततः | चित्रम् बहु विधम् भाण्डम् पृथिव्याम् तत् व्यशीर्यत || २-७८-१७

tasyaa hi aakR^iShyamaaNaayaa mantharaayaaH tataH tataH | citram bahu vidham bhaaNDam pR^ithivyaam tat vyashiiryata || 2-78-17

While that Manthara was violently dragged, here various colourful ornaments were scattered asunder here and there on the floor.

तेन भाण्डेन सम्कीर्णम् श्रीमद् राज निवेशनम् | अशोभत तदा भूयः शारदम् गगनम् यथा || २-७८-१८

tena bhaaNDena samkiirNam shriimad raaja niveshanam | ashobhata tadaa bhuuyaH shaaradam gaganam yathaa || 2-78-18

Thus, that splendid royal mansion scattered by those ornaments, appeared very much like an autumnal sky studded with innumerable stars.

स बली बलवत् क्रोधात् गृहीत्वा पुरुष ऋषभः | कैकेयीम् अभिनिर्भर्त्स्य बभाषे परुषम् वचः || २-७८-१९

sa balii balavat krodhaat gR^ihiitvaa puruSha R^iShabhaH | kaikeyiim abhinirbhartsya babhaaShe paruSham vacaH || 2-78-19

Shatrughna, the strong and the eminent man, thus violently seizing her with rage, sharply rebuked Kaikeyi and spoke harsh words to her.

तैः वाक्यैः परुषैः दुह्खैः कैकेयी भृश दुह्हिता | शत्रुघ्न भय सम्त्रस्ता पुत्रम् शरणम् आगता || २-७८-२०

taiH vaakyaiH paruShaiH duhkhaiH kaikeyii bhR^isha duhhitaa | shatrughna bhaya samtrastaa putram sharaNam aagataa || 2-78-20

Agonised very much by those harsh and painful words, Kiakeyi overwhelmed as she was with the fear of Shatrughna, took refuge with Bharata.

ताम् प्रेक्ष्य भरतः क्रुद्धम् शत्रुघ्नम् इदम् अब्रवीत् | अवध्याः सर्व भूतानाम् प्रमदाः क्षम्यताम् इति || २-७८-२१

taam prekShya bharataH kruddham shatrughnam idam abraviit | avadhyaaH sarva bhuutaanaam pramadaaH kShamyataam iti || 2-78-21

Seeing that enraged Shatrughna, Bharata said: "Among all beings women are not to be killed. Hence she is to be pardoned."

हन्याम् अहम् इमाम् पापाम् कैकेयीम् दुष्ट चारिणीम् | यदि माम् धार्मिको रामः न असूयेन् मातृ घातकम् || २-७८-२२

hanyaam aham imaam paapaam kaikeyiim duShTa caariNiim | yadi maam dhaarmiko raamaH na asuuyen maatR^i ghaatakam || 2-78-22

"If the pious Rama were not to express his displeasure with me for killing the mother, I would have killed this Kaikeyi, the ill-mannered and sinful woman."

इमाम् अपि हताम् कुब्जाम् यदि जानाति राघवः | त्वाम् च माम् चैव धर्म आत्मा न अभिभाषिष्यते ध्रुवम् || २-७८-२३

imaam api hataam kubjaam yadi jaanaati raaghavaH | tvaam ca maam caiva dharma aatmaa na abhibhaaShiShyate dhruvam || 2-78-23

"If the virtuous Rama hears that the hunch-backed woman has been killed, it is sure that he will cease to talk to you or even to me."

भरतस्य वचः श्रुत्वा शत्रुघ्नः लक्ष्मण अनुजः | न्यवर्तत ततः रोषात् ताम् मुमोच च मन्थराम् || २-७८-२४

bharatasya vacaH shrutvaa shatrughnaH lakShmaNa anujaH | nyavartata tataH roShaat taam mumoca ca mantharaam || 2-78-24

Hearing the words of Bharata, Shatrughna the younger brother of Lakshmana renouncing his guilty design forthwith released that Manthara.

सा पाद मूले कैकेय्या मन्थरा निपपात ह | निह्श्वसन्ती सुदुह्ख आर्ता कृपणम् विललाप च || २-७८-२५

saa paada muule kaikeyyaa mantharaa nipapaata ha | nihshvasantii suduhkha aartaa kR^ipaNam vilalaapa ca || 2-78-25

Manthara fell at the feet of Kaikeyi, breathless, weeping piteously.

शत्रुघ्न विक्षेप विमूढ सम्ज्ञाम् | समीक्ष्य कुब्जाम् भरतस्य माता | शनैः समाश्वासयद् आर्त रूपाम् | क्रौन्चीम् विलग्नाम् इव वीक्षमाणाम् || २-७८-२६

shatrughna vikShepa vimuuDha samGYaam | samiikShya kubjaam bharatasya maataa | shanaiH samaashvaasayad aarta ruupaam | kraunciim vilagnaam iva viikShamaaNaam || 2-78-26

Seeing the hunch-backed woman, who was distraught on account of shatrughna's violence, wearing a disturbed appearance and looking like a crane that has been caught in a noose, Bharata's mother slowly consoled her.