Shloka 2.7.2

मन्थराप्रवेशः — Manthara Observes Ayodhya and Incites Kaikeyi

Devanagari script

सिक्तराजपथां कृत्स्नां प्रकीर्णकुसुमोत्कराम्।अयोध्यां मन्थरा तस्मात्प्रासादादन्ववैक्षत।।।।

Transliteration

sā viṣaṇṇatarā bhūtvā kubjā tasyā hitaiṣiṇī | viṣādayantī provāca bhedayantī ca rāghavam ||

Translation

Growing even more downcast, the hunchback—claiming to seek Kaikeyī’s welfare—spoke so as to deepen her despair and to estrange her from Rāghava (Rāma).

Context

Manthara beheld from that palace the whole of Ayodhya with its highways sprinkled with water and strewn with a lot of flowers.

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā (kubjā)
• Kaikeyī
• Rāma (Rāghava)

FAQs

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

Dharma rejects counsel that creates needless division: pretending “welfare” while sowing despair and estrangement violates satya (truthfulness) and harms familial righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā escalates her strategy—she frames her advice as concern for Kaikeyī, but aims to turn her against Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue implied is sincerity in counsel (true हितैषिता). The verse contrasts it with manipulative ‘well-wishing’ used to justify harmful speech.