सादर पुनि पुनि पूँछति ओही । सबरी गान मृगी जनु मोही ॥
तसि मति फिरी अहइ जसि भाबी । रहसी चेरि घात जनु फाबी ॥
sādara puni puni pūm̐chati ohī | sabarī gāna mṛgī janu mohī ||
tasi mati phirī ahai jasi bhābī | rahasī ceri ghāta janu phābī ||
Ayodhya Kanda
Chapter 17: Manthara warns of the co-wife's scheme
5 verses · 17 of 326
What happens in this chapter
Manthara warns of the co-wife's scheme
Now Kaikeyi questions her respectfully, charmed like a doe by a huntress's song. Her mind turns as destiny wills, and the maid rejoices that her blow has landed. You ask, says Manthara, but I fear to speak, since you call me home-breaker. Then, with polished words that win trust, this misfortune of Ayodhya speaks. Yes, Rama loved you, but those days are gone; when times change, friends turn enemies. The sun nourishes the lotus, yet without water it burns it to ash. Your co-wife wants to tear out your roots; fence them with a plan. Trusting your fortune you think the king is yours, but he is foul in mind and sweet in speech, and you are simple.
तुम्ह पूछहु मैँ कहत डेराऊँ । धरेउ मोर घरफोरी नाऊँ ॥
सजि प्रतीति बहु-बिधि गढ़ि छोली । अवध साढ़साती तब बोली ॥
tumha pūchahu maim̐ kahata ḍerāūm̐ | dhareu mora gharaphorī nāūm̐ ||
saji pratīti bahu-bidhi gar̤hi cholī | avadha sār̤hasātī taba bolī ||
प्रिय सिय राम कहा तुम्ह रानी । रामहिँ तुम्ह प्रिय सो फुरि बानी ॥
रहा प्रथम अब ते दिन बीते । समउ फिरें रिपु होहिँ पिरीते ॥
priya siya rāma kahā tumha rānī | rāmahim̐ tumha priya so phuri bānī ||
rahā prathama aba te dina bīte | samau phireṃ ripu hohim̐ pirīte ||
भानु कमल-कुल पोषनिहारा । बिनु जल जारि करइ सोइ छारा ॥
जरि तुम्हारि चह सवति उखारी । रुँधहु करि उपाउ बर बारी ॥
bhānu kamala-kula poṣanihārā | binu jala jāri karai soi chārā ||
jari tumhāri caha savati ukhārī | rum̐dhahu kari upāu bara bārī ||
तुम्हहिँ न सोच सोहाग बल, निज बस जानहु राउ ।
मन मलीन मुँह-मीठ नृप, राउर सरल सुभाउ ॥
tumhahim̐ na soca sohāga bala, nija basa jānahu rāu |
mana malīna mum̐ha-mīṭha nṛpa, rāura sarala subhāu ||
Text source: Wikisource · Public domain (Tulsidas, 16th c.; 1925 edition, Wikisource PD-1996 tag); transcription CC BY-SA 4.0