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80
 
THE RAMAYANA
 
Hearing the words spoken by Kaikeyi,
Rama, being distressed addressed the queen
in the presence of the king :
 
अहो धिङ नार्हसे देवि वक्तुं मामी दृशं वचः ॥
 
"O Fie ! O Queen, you should not tell
me such words.
 
अहं हि वचनाद्राज्ञः पतेयमपि पावके ।
भक्षयेयं विषं तीक्ष्णं मज्जेयमपि चाणवे ॥
 
For, at the king's bidding I would even
jump into the fire, consume virulent poison
or even be drowned in the ocean.
 
तद् ब्रूहि वचनं देवि राज्ञो यदभिकाङ्क्षितम् ।
करिष्ये प्रतिजाने च रामो द्विर्नाभिभाषते ॥
 
Therefore, O Queen, tell me the king's
intended command. I shall carry it out.
I promise you. Rama never speaks
 
twice."
 
तमार्जवसमायुक्तमनार्या सत्यवादिनम् ।
उवाच राम कैकेयी वचनं भृशदारुणम् ॥
 
To that Rama who was straightforward
and truth-speaking, the ignoble Kaikeyi
said these highly cruel words: