Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.39 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 39

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

त्वमेव तु ममाऽर्थेषु नित्ययुक्ता हितैषिणी।।।।नाहं समवबुध्येयं कुब्जे राज्ञश्चिकीर्षितम्।

Transliteration

tvam eva tu mamārtheṣu nitya-yuktā hitaiṣiṇī |

na ahaṁ samavabudhyeyaṁ kubje rājñaś cikīrṣitam ||

Translation

Ô bossue, toi seule veilles sans cesse sur mes affaires, cherchant mon bien ; sans toi, je n’aurais pas compris ce que le roi se propose de faire.

Word by Word

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative, Singular; subject

• eva: alone/indeed
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle, exclusivity/emphasis

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Vyatireka (व्यतिरेक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive, Singular

• artheṣu: in (my) affairs
• artheṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural; sphere (विषय-सप्तमी)

• nityayuktā: always engaged
• nityayuktā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (√yuj धातु + क्त)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: nityaṃ yuktā; Feminine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with (tvam)

• hitaiṣiṇī: seeking welfare
• hitaiṣiṇī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक) + eṣiṇī (√iṣ धातु, desiderative/agent noun)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: hitam eṣate iti; Feminine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with tvam

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative, Singular; subject

• samavabudhyeyam: might understand/come to know
• samavabudhyeyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ava-√budh (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Ātmanepada, 1st person, Singular; potential sense

• kubje: O hunchback
• kubje: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kubjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• rājñaḥ: of the king
• rājñaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• cikīrṣitam: intended act
• cikīrṣitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Desiderative past passive participle (सन्नन्त/देशिदेरटिव + क्त; here from cikīrṣ-); Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object of samavabudhyeyam

Context

Thus addressed by queen Kaikeyi, that evil minded Manthara said this to Kaikeyi in order to spoil the interest of Rama:

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Mantharā
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

It highlights the danger of confusing ‘personal welfare’ with dharma. True welfare aligns with righteousness and truth, not with suspicion and manipulation.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī credits Mantharā as her trusted adviser and accepts Mantharā’s interpretation of the king’s intentions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Trustworthiness in counsel is being (mistakenly) attributed to Mantharā; the verse invites reflection on the virtue of choosing morally sound advisers.