Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.55-57: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shlokas 55-57
मन्थराप्रेरणा · वरद्वय-स्मरणं च
Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons
तथा प्रोत्साहिता देवी गत्वा मन्थरया सह ।
क्रोधागारं विशालाक्षी सौभाग्यमदगर्विता ॥५५॥
अनेकशतसाहस्रं मुक्ताहारं वराङ्गना ।
अवमुच्य वरार्हाणि शुभान्याभरणानि च ॥५६॥
ततो हेमोपमा तत्र कुब्जावाक्यवशं गता ।
संविश्य भूमौ कैकेयी मन्थरामिदमब्रवीत् ॥५७॥
tathā protsāhitā devī gatvā mantharayā saha |
krodhāgāraṃ viśālākṣī saubhāgyamadagarvitā ||55||
anekaśatasāhasraṃ muktāhāraṃ varāṅganā |
avamucya varārhāṇi śubhānyābharaṇāni ca ||56||
tato hemopamā tatra kubjāvākyavaśaṃ gatā |
saṃviśya bhūmau kaikeyī mantharāmidamabravīt ||57||
मंथरा ने कैकेयी को फैलाया। वो अपनी खूबसूरती पर नाज़ करके उसके साथ चली गई। बड़ी आँखों वाली रानी गुस्से के कमरे में गई। उसने अपना मोतियों का हार उतार दिया, बहोत महंगा था, लाखों का। बाकी के भी सारे गहने निकाल दिए जो बहोत क़ीमती थे। अब वो मंथरा की बातों में आ गई थी। ज़मीन पर लेट गई और मंथरा से बोली।
That beautiful, large-eyed Kaikeyi, puffed with the pride of her intoxicating beauty, encourged and influenced by the words of that hunchback, entered the chamber of wrath. She cast off her highly precious pearl necklace worth many hundreds of thousands (of rupees) and other costly, beautiful ornaments. Thereafter that golden-hued Kaikeyi lay down on the floor and said to Manthara:
FAQs
This verse serves as a cautionary illustration of Adharma (unrighteousness) arising from attachment and manipulation. Kaikeyi's transformation from a beloved queen to one consumed by greed and anger demonstrates how even virtuous individuals can be led astray when influenced by negative counsel and when pride clouds their judgment.
Manthara has successfully poisoned Kaikeyi's mind against Rama's coronation. Kaikeyi, now influenced by the hunchback's manipulative words, removes her ornaments and enters the 'chamber of wrath' (krodhāgāra), a designated space for expressing displeasure. She lies on the floor in a dramatic display of anger and distress, preparing to demand boons from King Dasaratha.
The verse emphasizes the negative virtue of mada (intoxication with pride) and its destructive consequences. Kaikeyi's saubhāgyamada (pride in her beauty and fortune) makes her vulnerable to manipulation, illustrating how attachment to status and power can corrupt one's judgment and lead to unrighteous actions.
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