Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 77, Shloka 13

और्ध्वदैहिकक्रिया-शोकविलापः

Obsequies for Daśaratha and the Brothers’ Lament

Devanagari script

मन्थराप्रभवस्तीव्रः कैकेयीग्राहसङ्कुलः।।।।वरदानमयोऽक्षोभ्योऽमञ्जयच्छोकसागरः।

Transliteration

mantharāprabhavas tīvraḥ kaikeyīgrāhasaṅkulaḥ |

varadānamayo 'kṣobhyo 'mañjayac chōkasāgaraḥ ||2.77.13||

Translation

لقد ابتلعنا بحرٌ رهيبٌ من الأسى؛ منشؤه مانثارا، مزدحمٌ بكايكَيِي كتمساحٍ فيه، متجسّدٌ في عطايا لا تُرَدّ، ثابتُ العصف لا يتزعزع.

Word by Word

• mantharā-prabhavaḥ: arising from Mantharā
• mantharā-prabhavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mantharā + prabhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; pañcamī-tatpuruṣa (ablative determinative): mantharāyāḥ prabhavaḥ (having origin from Mantharā)

• tīvraḥ: fierce, intense
• tīvraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīvra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa

• kaikeyī-grāha-saṅkulaḥ: filled with (the) crocodile Kaikeyī
• kaikeyī-grāha-saṅkulaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaikeyī + grāha + saṅkula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (determinative): kaikeyī (as) grāha (crocodile) implied; saṅkula = filled with; overall: 'crowded with the crocodile Kaikeyī' (upamā/utprekṣā sense)

• varadāna-mayaḥ: made of boons (irrevocable grants)
• varadāna-mayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara + dāna + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: varadānaiḥ mayaḥ (consisting of boons)

• akṣobhyaḥ: unagitated, unshakable
• akṣobhyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + kṣobhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; nañ-tatpuruṣa sense (negation): not-to-be-agitated

• amañjayat: drowned, submerged
• amañjayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √majj (मज्ज्) (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/लङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada; causative sense not required here: 'made sink/drowned'

• śoka-sāgaraḥ: sea of sorrow
• śoka-sāgaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śoka + sāgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: śokasya sāgaraḥ (sea of sorrow)

Context

With Manthara as the source, Kaikeyi as a crocodile, this terrible sea of sorrow which has submerged all of us lies unruffled.

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā
• Kaikeyī
• Boons (varas / वरदान)

FAQs

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

It warns that adharma—manipulative counsel and selfish desire—can unleash far-reaching suffering; dharma requires discernment, restraint, and truthfulness in royal decision-making.

What is the narrative situation?

In the aftermath of Daśaratha’s death and Rāma’s exile, Śatrughna (or a grieving prince) describes the calamity metaphorically as an ocean caused by Mantharā and Kaikeyī’s actions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, the verse emphasizes the need for विवेक (discernment) and steadfast adherence to dharma in accepting counsel and granting boons.