Widowed, of Raghu's son bereft,

Live with our foe Kaikeyí near,

The wicked queen we hate and fear?

She threw away the king, her spite

Drove Ráma forth and Lakshmaṇ's might,

And gentle Sítá: how will she

Spare any, whosoe'er it be?”

Oppressed with sorrow, tear-distained,

The royal women thus complained.

Like night when not a star appears,