Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.13: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 13

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

स शम्बर इति ख्यातश्शतमायो महासुरः।ददौ शक्रस्य सङ्ग्रामं देवसङ्घैरनिर्जितः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.9.13

Transliteration

sa śambara iti khyātaḥ śatamāyo mahāsuraḥ | dadau śakrasya saṅgrāmaṃ devasaṅghair anirjitaḥ ||

Translation

Asura perkasa yang termasyhur bernama Śambara itu—penguasa seratus tipu daya—menantang Śakra (Indra) ke medan perang; ia tak pernah ditaklukkan bahkan oleh bala tentara para dewa.

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Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• महति: great
• महति: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘सङ्ग्रामे’ विशेषणम्

• सङ्ग्रामे: in the battle
• सङ्ग्रामे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पुरुषान्: men/warriors
• पुरुषान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन

• क्षतविक्षतान्: wounded and mangled
• क्षतविक्षतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षत-विक्षत (प्रातिपदिक; क्षत+विक्षत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘पुरुषान्’ विशेषणम्

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• प्रसुप्तान्: fast asleep
• प्रसुप्तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-स्वप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘पुरुषान्’ विशेषणम्

• घ्नन्ति: kill
• घ्नन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• स्म: indeed/used to
• स्म: Sambandha (निपात/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-निपातः (particle indicating past/continuative sense with present form)

• तरसा: by force/rapidly
• तरसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial instrumental)

• आसाद्य: having approached
• आसाद्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-सद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having approached/attacked’

• राक्षसाः: rakshasas
• राक्षसाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

Context

O queen during the war between gods and asuras, your husband went with royal saints intending to render assistance to Indra, king of the gods, taking you along with him. He set off in the southern direction of Dandaka forest to a renowned city called Vaijayanta where asura Timidhvaja lived.

Characters & Entities

• Śambara
• Śakra/Indra

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed through cosmic conflict: deceitful power (māyā) aligned with adharma challenges rightful order, requiring steadfast resistance.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā describes the formidable asura Śambara and the threat posed to Indra, setting the stage for Daśaratha’s involvement.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage and perseverance in the face of overwhelming, deceptive opposition.