Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.35: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 35

मन्थराप्रेरणा · वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Spoken by Manthara to KaikeyiSetting: Ayodhyā palace (Kaikeyī’s quarters leading to king’s chamber)

Devanagari script

प्राप्तकालं नु मन्येऽहं राजानं वीतसाध्वसा ॥३५॥

रामाभिषेकसङ्कल्पान्निगृह्य विनिवर्तय ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.9.35

Transliteration

prāptakālaṃ nu manye ’haṃ rājānaṃ vītasādhvasā ||35||

rāmābhiṣekasaṅkalpān nigṛhya vinivartaya |

Translation

Ich meine, die rechte Zeit sei nun gekommen. Ohne Furcht halte den König zurück und wende ihn von seinem Entschluss ab, Rāma zu weihen und zu krönen.

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Word by Word

• prāptakālam: the right time (having arrived)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāpta (pra-√āp धातु + क्त) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: prāptaḥ kālaḥ (the time has come); Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object of manye (as opinion-content)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• nu: indeed/now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), interrogative/emphatic nuance
• Role: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)

• manye: I think/consider
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Ātmanepada, 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• aham: I
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative, Singular; subject of manye
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• rājānam: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; object of vinivartaya/nigṛhya
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• vītasādhvasā: fearlessly/with fear gone
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīta (vi-√i/√yā धातु + क्त, 'gone') + sādhvasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष): vītaṃ sādhvasaṃ yayā (fear has departed); Feminine, Instrumental, Singular; qualifies implied 'tvayā' (by you, fearless) or as instrumental of manner
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (करण/भाव-तृतीया)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• rāmābhiṣekasaṅkalpāt: from the plan of Rama's consecration
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + abhiṣeka (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain: rāmasya abhiṣekaḥ; abhiṣekasya saṅkalpaḥ; Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; source/point of withdrawal
• Role: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• nigṛhya: having restrained/forcibly checked
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√grah (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त, ल्यप्): nigṛhya; expresses prior action
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (पूर्वक्रिया)

• vinivartaya: turn (him) back/dissuade
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ni-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (imperative), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular; causative sense 'make (him) turn back' is contextual though form is simple imperative
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• manye 'haṃ = manye + aham
• rāmābhiṣekasaṅkalpān = rāmābhiṣekasaṅkalpāt + nigṛhya (final -t before n assimilates in transmission; underlying ablative -āt)

Context

I think the proper time has come (to ask for the boons). Without fear refrain the king forcibly from his intention of installing Rama.

The teaching

When 'right time' becomes the sole criterion, dharma is easily overridden; means (nigraha/coercion) corrupt ends.

Duties in tension

• Pativratā/queenly duty to support righteous kingly decision
• Political ambition for Bharata’s elevation
• Truth and fairness vs. coercion of an elder king

Ethical theme

Abuse of influence / coercive counsel

For your practice

Practice of ahiṃsā in speech and restraint of manipulative impulses; contemplation on purity of intention (saṅkalpa-śuddhi).

Mood and themes

Rasa

Raudra (fury), with Bhayanaka (fear)

Mood

Forceful, urgent, coercive

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Ethics
• Timing and strategy
• Obstruction of rightful coronation

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha (the king)
• Rāma

FAQs

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

It dramatizes the ethical danger of coercion in governance and family life; dharma favors counsel and justice, not forceful obstruction of rightful duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā urges immediate action: Kaikeyī must intervene at once to halt preparations for Rāma’s coronation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearlessness is urged, but as a tool for wrongdoing; the epic later contrasts this with Rāma’s fearless commitment to dharma and satya.