Valmiki Ramayana 2.78.6: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 78, Shloka 6

अष्टसप्ततितमः सर्गः · Śatrughna’s Fury and Bharata’s Restraint

Mantharā Episode

Setting: Ayodhyā palace interior/entrance area

Devanagari script

लिप्ता चन्दनसारेण राजवस्त्राणि बिभ्रती ।

विविधं विविधै स्तैस्तैर्भूषणैश्च विभूषिता ॥६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.78.6

Transliteration

liptā candanasāreṇa rājavastrāṇi bibhratī |

vividhaṃ vividhai stais tair bhūṣaṇaiś ca vibhūṣitā ||6||

Translation

उसके शरीर पर चंदन का लेप था। राजा लोगों जैसे कपड़े पहने थी। और अलग-अलग तरह के गहनों से सजी थी।

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• लिप्ता: smeared/anointed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)
• Role: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)

• चन्दनसारेण: with sandal-essence
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दनसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Singular); समास: चन्दनस्य सारः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)
• Role: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• राजवस्त्राणि: royal garments
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजवस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Plural); समास: राज्ञः वस्त्राणि (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)
• Role: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• बिभ्रती: wearing/bearing
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय, present active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)
• Role: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)

• विविधम्: variously/in many ways
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbially: 'in various ways')
• Role: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)

• विविधैः: by various
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural); भूषणैः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)

• तैः: by those
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural); भूषणैः इत्यस्य निर्देशक-विशेषणम्
• Role: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)

• तैः: by those very
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural); पुनरुक्ति-बल (emphatic repetition)
• Role: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)

• भूषणैः: with ornaments
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural)
• Role: करण (Instrument/करण)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)
• Role: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)

• विभूषिता: adorned
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + भूष् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)
• Role: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)

Sandhi Notes

• IAST 'staistair' resolved as 'taiḥ tair' (repetition for emphasis)
• 'bhūṣaṇaiśca' = 'bhūṣaṇaiḥ ca'

Context

She had besmeared herself with the essence of sandal, had put on royal garments andadorned herself in many ways with every kind of ornament.

The teaching

External refinement cannot launder inner wrongdoing; dharma judges intent and consequence, not costume.

Ethical theme

Ācāra vs antaḥkaraṇa (conduct vs inner motive)

For your practice

Reminder for sādhana: cultivate inner śauca and satya; do not substitute outer ‘purity’ for inner transformation.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Bibhatsa (disgust), with Raudra (fury)

Mood

Gaudy, repellent, inflaming

Themes

• Itihasa
• Narrative
• Ethics
• Dharma

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā
• Ornaments (bhūṣaṇa)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores that dharma concerns inner integrity and truthful intention (satya), not external luxury; adornment does not equate to virtue.

What is the narrative situation?

The poet describes Mantharā’s elaborate appearance as she approaches, heightening the contrast between display and moral reputation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral clarity: the audience is prompted to evaluate characters by their ethical impact rather than status symbols.