Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 3

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

इदं त्विदानीं सम्पश्य केनोपायेन मन्थरे।भरतः प्राप्नुयाद्राज्यं न तु रामः कथञ्चन।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.9.3

Transliteration

idaṃ tv idānīṃ sampaśya kenopāyena manthare | bharataḥ prāpnuyād rājyaṃ na tu rāmaḥ kathañcana ||

Translation

Now consider this, O Mantharā—by what means can Bharata obtain the kingdom, and not Rāma, by any means at all?

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Word by Word

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म; object of ‘सम्पश्य’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (this [matter])

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha-nipāta (सम्बन्ध-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (indeed/but)

• इदानीम्: now
• इदानीम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इदानीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (now)

• सम्पश्य: see/consider
• सम्पश्य: Kriyā (क्रिया; command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-पश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

• केन: by what
• केन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-प्रयोग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक (by what)

• उपायेन: means
• उपायेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; साधन (means)

• मन्थरे: O Manthara
• मन्थरे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्थरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• भरतः: Bharata
• भरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्राप्नुयात्: should obtain
• प्राप्नुयात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• राज्यम्: the kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha-nipāta (प्रतिषेध-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha-nipāta (सम्बन्ध-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (contrast: but/as for)

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता; in contrasted clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• कथञ्चन: by any means
• कथञ्चन: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथञ्चन (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/परिमाणवाचक (in any way/at all)

Context

O Manthara! now see, for sure, Bharata and not Rama will get the kingdom by anymeans.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Mantharā
• Bharata
• Rāma
• kingdom (rājya)

FAQs

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

It exposes the ethical deviation where personal desire overrides fairness; dharma in kingship requires impartial succession norms, not intrigue driven by favoritism.

What is the narrative situation?

Having been provoked by Mantharā, Kaikeyī begins actively plotting to prevent Rāma’s coronation and secure the throne for Bharata.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

A negative trait is foregrounded—jealousy/attachment—showing how lack of self-control undermines dharmic judgment.