Who is such an inveterate sinner as I, on whose account Sita and Rama have been exiled to the forest? The king banished Rama to the woods, and when he had lost him, himself passed to the realm of the gods;

- and I, the wicked root of all this wrongdoing, sit quietly and listen to all this talk unmoved! Though I find the palace bereft of Raghunatha, I have survived and endured the mockery of the world

Devoid of attraction for Rama, who is a sacred object of love, my soul is rapacious and hungers for land (dominion) and carnal pleasures. I have no words to express the hardness of my heart, which has won honour by pouring scorn upon the (hardest) adamant.

An effect is as a rule harder than its cause, and I am not to blame for it; the thunderbolt is harder and more deadly than the bone and iron than stone. (Since Kaikeyi is my cause and I her effect, no wonder I am crueller than she.)

This wretched life of mine, which cleaves to a body born of Kaikeyi’s womb, is exceedingly unfortunate. If, bereaved of my dear one, life continues to be dear tome, I shall have much hereafter to see and hear.

She has banished Lakshmana, Rama and Sita to the forest and has done her husband a good turn by sending him to heaven; she has taken widowhood and infamy upon herself and brought grief and affliction on the people;

- and on me she has bestowed happiness, fair reputation and a thriving kingdom! She has indeed served the interests of all! What greater blessing can I now have? And over and above that you propose to crown my bliss with royal dignity!