Valmiki Ramayana 2.7.36 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 36

मन्थराप्रवेशः

Manthara Observes Ayodhya and Incites Kaikeyi

Devanagari script

न मे परं किञ्चिदितस्त्वया पुनःप्रियं प्रियार्हे सुवचं वचःपरम्।तथा ह्यवोचस्त्वमतः प्रियोत्तरंवरं परं ते प्रददामि तं वृणु।।।।

Transliteration

na me paraṃ kiñcid itas tvayā punaḥ priyaṃ priyārhe suvacam vacaḥparam |

tathā hy avocas tvam ataḥ priyottaraṃ varaṃ paraṃ te pradadāmi taṃ vṛṇu || 2.7.36 ||

Translation

O Frau, der Zuneigung würdig, nichts darüber hinaus könnte mir von dir noch lieber sein; deine Worte sind jenseits leichter Lobpreisung. Weil du so gesprochen hast, gewähre ich dir eine noch höhere Gabe: wähle sie.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• me: of me / to me (contextual)
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन (singular)

• param: anything beyond / other
• param: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• kiñcit: anything
• kiñcit: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiñcit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• itaḥ: from this / than this
• itaḥ: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: itaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादानार्थक/तुलनार्थक (from/than)

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: again)

• priyam: dear / pleasing
• priyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• priyārhe: O worthy of affection
• priyārhe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priyā + arhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (priyāyāḥ arhā = worthy of affection)

• suvacam: well-spoken / pleasingly spoken
• suvacam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + vaca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; कर्मधारयः (good/pleasant + speech)

• vacaḥparam: beyond words / surpassing speech
• vacaḥparam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vacaḥ + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (vacaḥ-para = surpassing words)

• tathā: thus
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (thus/in that manner)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); हेतौ/निश्चये (indeed/for)

• avocaḥ: you said
• avocaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• ataḥ: therefore
• ataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/तस्मात्-अर्थे (therefore/from this)

• priyottaram: dearer / most dear
• priyottaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya + uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः (uttara = superior among the dear)

• varam: boon
• varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• param: supreme / best
• param: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी (4th/dative), एकवचन

• pradadāmi: I give / I bestow
• pradadāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + dā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• vṛṇu: choose (it)
• vṛṇu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद; मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

O woman worthy of affection! for me there is nothing greater and dearer than this news. I will grant you another reward better than this. Just ask for it.ইত্যার্ষে শ্রীমদ্রামাযণে বাল্মীকীয আদিকাব্যে অযোধ্যাকাণ্ডে সপ্তমস্সর্গঃ৷৷Thus ends the seventh sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Mantharā

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the moral weight of promises and rewards: offering open-ended boons without discernment can enable adharma, showing why dharma requires restraint, clarity, and alignment with truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī, pleased by Mantharā’s report, proposes granting an even greater reward and invites Mantharā to ask for it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Commitment to giving and honoring requests is implied, but the lesson stresses prudent commitment—virtue must be guided by righteous judgment.