Valmiki Ramayana 2.7.27: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 27

मन्थराप्रवेशः

Manthara Observes Ayodhya and Incites Kaikeyi

Devanagari script

शत्रुः पतिप्रवादेन मात्रेव हितकाम्यया।आशीविष इवाङ्केन बाले परिधृतस्त्वया।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.7.27

Transliteration

śatruḥ patipravādena mātreva hitakāmyayā | āśīviṣa ivāṅkena bāle paridhṛtas tvayā ||

Translation

Ô enfant, voulant son bien comme une mère—le prenant pour un véritable époux—tu as gardé sur tes genoux un ennemi, tel un serpent venimeux.

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Word by Word

• शत्रुः: an enemy
• शत्रुः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/कर्ता) एकवचन

• पति: husband
• पति: सम्बन्ध (Relation within compound/समाससम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद; ‘husband’

• प्रवादेन: by the notion/assumption (of husbandhood)
• प्रवादेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr/करण) एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: पतेः प्रवादः/प्रवादः = belief/assumption about (him as) husband

• मात्रा: by a mother
• मात्रा: उपमान (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr) एकवचन

• इव: as if/like
• इव: उपमा (Comparison marker/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• हितकाम्यया: desiring (your) welfare
• हितकाम्यया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित + काम्य (प्रातिपदिके; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr) एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: हितस्य काम्या = desirous of welfare

• आशीविषः: a venomous serpent
• आशीविषः: उपमेय (Thing compared/उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशीविष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा (Comparison marker/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय

• अङ्केन: in the lap/with the embrace
• अङ्केन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr/करण) एकवचन; ‘lap/embrace’

• बाले: O girl/child
• बाले: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन) एकवचन

• परिधृतः: kept/cherished
• परिधृतः: क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय (Predicate participle)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-धृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘held/kept’

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: कर्ता (Agent in passive/कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instr/करण) एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Context

O innocent lady! with the intention of doing good like a mother to your husband who is your enemy, you are holding on your lap a venomous serpent.

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā
• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha
• Serpent (metaphor)

FAQs

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

It cautions that relationships must be grounded in truth and just conduct; dharma includes discerning whether trust is deserved.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā uses a striking metaphor to portray Daśaratha as a hidden threat, urging Kaikeyī to stop trusting him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence (apramāda) is emphasized—though weaponized here to erode marital trust.