Valmiki Ramayana 2.7.21 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 21

मन्थराप्रवेशः

Manthara Observes Ayodhya and Incites Kaikeyi

Devanagari script

साऽस्म्यगाधे भये मग्ना दुःखशोकसमन्विता।दह्यमानाऽनलेनेव त्वद्धितार्थमिहागता।।।।

Transliteration

sā 'smy agādhe bhaye magnā duḥkhaśokasamanvitā | dahyamānā 'nalen eva tvaddhitārtham ihāgatā ||

Translation

Ich bin in unergründliche Furcht versunken, erfüllt von Leid und Kummer; brennend wie im Feuer bin ich hierher gekommen, um deinetwillen.

Word by Word

• sā: I/she (she speaking: I)
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• asmi: am
• asmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• agādhe: unfathomable
• agādhe: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-gādha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (bhaye)

• bhaye: in fear
• bhaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• magnā: plunged, sunk
• magnā: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate adjective)
• Type: Verb
• Root: maj (धातु) + na (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (past participle/क्तवत्-भाव), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘submerged/plunged’

• duḥkha-śoka-samanvitā: accompanied by grief and sorrow
• duḥkha-śoka-samanvitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + samanvita (प्रातिपदिक; √anv-i)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः: ‘duḥkhena śokena ca samanvitā’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (sā)

• dahyamānā: being burnt
• dahyamānā: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dah (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (वर्तमान कर्मणि कृदन्त/शानच्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘being burnt’

• analena: by fire
• analena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• iva: as if, like
• iva: Upamāna-bodhaka (उपमानबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (upamā particle)

• tvad-hita-artham: for your welfare
• tvad-hita-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम) + hita (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-भाव: ‘tava hitasya artham’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजन (purpose)

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place)

• āgatā: have come
• āgatā: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√gam (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (past participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having come’

Context

Plunged in unfathomable fear and stricken with grief and tears I am here seeking your well-being and yet consumed as though by fire.

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

It shows how claims of 'welfare' can be used to justify agitation; dharmically, intention (bhāva) must align with truth (satya), not merely emotional display.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā intensifies her warning by presenting herself as distressed and acting 'for Kaikeyī’s good' to gain trust.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse performs the appearance of concern; it primarily illustrates rhetorical strategy rather than a genuine virtue.