Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.53: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 53

मन्थराप्रेरणा · वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

इति प्रशस्यमाना सा कैकेयीमिदमब्रवीत् ।

शयानां शयने शुभ्रे वेद्यामग्निशिखामिव ॥५३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.9.53

Transliteration

iti praśasyamānā sā kaikēyīmidamabravīt |

śayānāṃ śayane śubhre vedyāmagniśikhāmiva ||53||

Translation

So gepriesen sprach Mantharā zu Kaikeyī, die auf einem leuchtend weißen Lager lag, gleich einer Feuerflamme auf dem Opferaltar.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक-अव्यय (quotative/thus)

• प्रशस्यमाना: being praised
• प्रशस्यमाना: कर्ता (Karta/Subject) (अब्रवीत् इत्यस्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + √शंस् (धातु) + य (यक्/य-प्रत्यय; कर्मणि वर्तमानकृदन्त)
• Form: कर्मणि वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular) — सा इति विशेषणम्

• सा: she (Mantharā)
• सा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• कैकेयीम्: to Kaikeyī
• कैकेयीम्: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient) (उक्तेः प्रति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• इदम्: this (speech)
• इदम्: कर्म (Karma/Object) (अब्रवीत् इत्यस्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• शयानाम्: of (her) lying down
• शयानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √शी (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त; आत्मनेपदी वर्तमानकृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present middle participle/शानच्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular) — सा इत्यस्य (lying) अवस्थावाचक

• शयने: on the bed/couch
• शयने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• शुभ्रे: white, bright
• शुभ्रे: विशेषण (Qualifier) (अधिकरणस्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular) — शयने इति विशेषणम्

• वेद्याम्: on the altar
• वेद्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location) (उपमान-वाक्ये)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• अग्नि-शिखाम्: a flame of fire
• अग्नि-शिखाम्: उपमान (Upamāna/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अग्नेः शिखा)

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा-सम्बन्ध (Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

Context

Flattered in this manner, Manthara addressed Kaikeyi who was lying on a white couch and looking like a flaming fire on the sacrificial altar:

Characters & Entities

• Manthara
• Kaikeyi

FAQs

What is the significance of comparing Kaikeyi to a flame on an altar?

The simile (Agni-shikha) highlights Kaikeyi's intense radiance and purity, but also foreshadows the destructive potential of her impending request, much like a sacrificial fire can be both purifying and all-consuming.

Who is the 'she' referred to in this verse?

The 'she' refers to Manthara, the hunchbacked maid, who is responding to the praise she just received from Kaikeyi.