Shloka 2.9.56

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च (Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons)

Devanagari script

तथा प्रोत्साहिता देवी गत्वा मन्थरया सह।क्रोधागारं विशालाक्षी सौभाग्यमदगर्विता।।2.9.55।।अनेकशतसाहस्रं मुक्ताहारं वराङ्गना।अवमुच्य वरार्हाणि शुभान्याभरणानि च।।2.9.56।।ततो हेमोपमा तत्र कुब्जावाक्यवशं गता।संविश्य भूमौ कैकेयी मन्थरामिदमब्रवीत्।।2.9.57।।

Transliteration

anekaśatasāhasraṃ muktāhāraṃ varāṅganā | avamucya varārhāṇi śubhāny ābharaṇāni ca ||

Translation

That noble lady cast off a pearl necklace worth many hundreds of thousands, and also her other auspicious, exceedingly precious ornaments.

Context

That beautiful, largeeyed Kaikeyi, puffed with the pride of her intoxicating beauty, encourged and influenced by the words of that hunchback, entered the chamber of wrath. She cast off her highly precious pearl necklace worth many hundreds of thousands (of rupees) and other costly, beautiful ornaments. Thereafter that goldenhued Kaikeyi lay down on the floor and said to Manthara:

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

External gestures can imitate renunciation, but dharma depends on intention; symbolic acts without righteous intent can become tools of manipulation.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī intensifies her protest by discarding royal ornaments—an embodied signal of rupture with normal courtly harmony.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse highlights resolve and theatrical self-denial, but it is not presented as a dharmic virtue because it serves a destructive agenda.