Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 49

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

मुखे च तिलकं चित्रं जातरूपमयं शुभम्।।।।कारयिष्यामि ते कुब्जे शुभान्याभरणानि च।

Transliteration

mukhe ca tilakaṃ citraṃ jātarūpamayaṃ śubham |

kārayiṣyāmi te kubje śubhāny ābharaṇāni ca ||

Translation

“O hunchback, I will have a splendid, auspicious tilaka of gold made for your face, and I will also commission fine ornaments for you.”

Word by Word

• mukhe: on the face
• mukhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• tilakam: tilaka mark
• tilakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tilaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• citram: beautiful/variegated
• citram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifying 'tilakam'

• jātarūpamayam: made of gold
• jātarūpamayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jātarūpa-maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: jātarūpa (gold) + maya (made of); Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifying 'tilakam'

• śubham: auspicious
• śubham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifying 'tilakam'

• kārayiṣyāmi: I will have (it) made
• kārayiṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + ṇic (णिच्)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (Future), Uttama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; causative (णिजन्त)

• te: for you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Caturthī, Ekavacana

• kubje: O Kubjā
• kubje: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kubjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• śubhāni: auspicious/beautiful
• śubhāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifying 'ābharaṇāni'

• ābharaṇāni: ornaments
• ābharaṇāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ābharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

Context

O Kaikeyi, what a joy! I shall now tell you how your son Bharata alone will secure the kingdom. Listen to me:

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Mantharā
• Tilaka
• Ornaments

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

External adornment is used to validate harmful counsel. Dharma teaching: inner integrity and truthful intention matter more than rewards and display.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī continues promising status-symbols to Mantharā as payment for her plotting and persuasion.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Misplaced generosity—giving is separated from righteousness, showing how a good impulse becomes ethically compromised when serving adharma.