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

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

प्राप्तकालं नु मन्येऽहं राजानं वीतसाध्वसा।।।।रामाभिषेकसङ्कल्पान्निगृह्य विनिवर्तय।

Transliteration

prāptakālaṃ nu manye ’haṃ rājānaṃ vītasādhvasā | 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.

Word by Word

• prāptakālam: the right time (having arrived)
• prāptakālam: Karma (कर्म)
• 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)

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

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

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

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

• vītasādhvasā: fearlessly/with fear gone
• vītasādhvasā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (करण/भाव-तृतीया)
• 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

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

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

• vinivartaya: turn (him) back/dissuade
• vinivartaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• 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

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.

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.