Ayodhya Kaanda Sarasvati perverts the mind of Manthara (a handmaid of queen Kaikeyi); a dialogue between Kaikeyi and Manthara - Chaupais
Ramcharitmanas · Ayodhya Kaanda Sarasvati perverts the mind of Manthara (a handmaid of queen Kaikeyi); a dialogue between Kaikeyi and Manthara · Verse Chaupais 1575
Sanskrit Original
दीख मंथरा नगरु बनावा। मंजुल मंगल बाज बधावा।। पूछेसि लोगन्ह काह उछाहू। राम तिलकु सुनि भा उर दाहू।। करइ बिचारु कुबुद्धि कुजाती। होइ अकाजु कवनि बिधि राती।। देखि लागि मधु कुटिल किराती। जिमि गवँ तकइ लेउँ केहि भाँती।। भरत मातु पहिं गइ बिलखानी। का अनमनि हसि कह हँसि रानी।। ऊतरु देइ न लेइ उसासू। नारि चरित करि ढारइ आँसू।। हँसि कह रानि गालु बड़ तोरें। दीन्ह लखन सिख अस मन मोरें।। तबहुँ न बोल चेरि बड़ि पापिनि। छाड़इ स्वास कारि जनु साँपिनि।।
dīkha maṃtharā nagaru banāvā. maṃjula maṃgala bāja badhāvā.. pūchēsi lōganha kāha uchāhū. rāma tilaku suni bhā ura dāhū.. karai bicāru kubuddhi kujātī. hōi akāju kavani bidhi rātī.. dēkhi lāgi madhu kuṭila kirātī. jimi gavaom takai lēu kēhi bhāomtī.. bharata mātu pahiṃ gai bilakhānī. kā anamani hasi kaha haomsi rānī.. ūtaru dēi na lēi usāsū. nāri carita kari ḍhārai āomsū.. haomsi kaha rāni gālu baḍa tōrēṃ. dīnha lakhana sikha asa mana mōrēṃ.. tabahu na bōla cēri baḍai pāpini. chāḍai svāsa kāri janu sāompini..
Manthara saw the city decorated and festal music melodiously playing; she, therefore, asked the people, "What is all this rejoicing about?" When she heard of Sri Rama's coming installation, she felt distressed in her heart. That evil-minded and low- born woman pondered how mischief might be created overnight, even as a wily Bhila woman who has seen a honeycomb hanging from a tree schemes how to get hold of the honey. Pulling a long face she approached Bharata's mother. "What makes you look so grave?" the queen smilingly asked. She made no answer, but only heaved a deep sigh, and adopting the way of women shed crocodile tears. Said the queen laughing, "You are a most saucy girl; what I suspect, therefore, is that Laksmana has taught you a lesson." Even then the most wicked servant-maid would not speak and merely hissed like a cobra. (1-4)