Shloka 2.9.60

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

Devanagari script

अथो पुनस्तां महिषीं महीक्षितोवचोभिरत्यर्थमहापराक्रमैः।उवाच कुब्जा भरतस्य मातरंहितं वचो राममुपेत्य चाहितम्।।।।

Transliteration

atho punas tāṃ mahiṣīṃ mahīkṣito vacobhir atyartha-mahā-parākramaiḥ | uvāca kubjā bharatasya mātaraṃ hitaṃ vaco rāmam upetya cāhitam ||

Translation

Then again the hunchback addressed that queen—the king’s consort and Bharata’s mother—with words of fierce force: words deemed a ‘benefit’ for Bharata, yet harmful as they bore upon Rāma.

Context

Addressing queen Kaikeyi, the mother of Bharata, with extremely powerful words, that hunchback again made these utterances beneficial to Bharata and detrimental to Rama:

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā (Kubjā)
• Kaikeyī
• Bharata
• Rāma
• Daśaratha (implied by 'king')

FAQs

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

It underscores vāk-dharma: powerful speech must be measured by truth and universal welfare; ‘benefit’ to one party achieved through harm to the righteous is ethically suspect.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration frames Mantharā’s renewed argumentation: she speaks forcefully to steer Kaikeyī toward Bharata’s enthronement and against Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse spotlights rhetorical power (parākrama in speech), but as a morally ambivalent capacity when severed from dharma.