Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.62: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 62

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

तथाऽतिविद्धा महिषी तु कुब्जयासमाहता वागिषुभिर्मुहुर्मुहुः।निधायहस्तौ हृदयेऽतिविस्मिताशशंस कुब्जां कुपिता पुनः पुनः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.9.62

Transliteration

tathātividdhā mahiṣī tu kubjayā samāhatā vāg-iṣubhir muhur muhuḥ | nidhāya hastau hṛdaye 'tivismitā śaśaṃsa kubjāṃ kupitā punaḥ punaḥ ||

Translation

Demikianlah sang permaisuri, tertusuk dalam oleh kata-kata si bungkuk yang laksana anak panah, dihantam berulang-ulang. Dengan takjub ia meletakkan kedua tangan di dadanya; lalu, tersulut amarah, ia memuji si bungkuk berkali-kali.

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Word by Word

• tathā: thus, in that manner
• tathā: Prakaraṇa/Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• atividdhā: deeply pierced/struck
• atividdhā: Karta (कर्ता) (as qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati-√vidh (धातु) + kta (क्त) -> atividdha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies mahiṣī

• mahiṣī: queen
• mahiṣī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahiṣī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), adversative/emphatic

• kubjayā: by the hunchback woman
• kubjayā: Karaṇa (करण) / Agent-instrument (कर्तृकरणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kubjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• samāhatā: struck, beaten
• samāhatā: Karta (कर्ता) (as qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-√han (धातु) + kta (क्त) -> samāhata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies mahiṣī

• vāgiṣubhiḥ: by word-arrows (sharp words)
• vāgiṣubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāk + iṣu (प्रातिपदिक); vāg-iṣu (समास-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); components: vāk (speech) + iṣu (arrow) = 'speech-arrows'

• muhur: again, repeatedly
• muhur: Prakaraṇa/Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: muhur (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• muhuḥ: again and again
• muhuḥ: Prakaraṇa/Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: muhuḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय); reduplicated with previous for emphasis

• nidhāya: having placed
• nidhāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण) of main verb
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ni-√dhā (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्) -> nidhāya (कृदन्त-अव्ययभाव)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्-कृदन्त, अव्यय), 'having placed'

• hastau: both hands
• hastau: Karma (कर्म) (object of nidhāya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• hṛdaye: on the heart/chest
• hṛdaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ativismitā: greatly astonished
• ativismitā: Karta (कर्ता) (as qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati-vi-√smi (धातु) + kta (क्त) -> ativismita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies mahiṣī

• śaśaṃsa: praised/spoke to
• śaśaṃsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śaṃs (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• kubjām: the hunchback woman
• kubjām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kubjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kupitā: angered
• kupitā: Karta (कर्ता) (as qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √kup (धातु) + kta (क्त) -> kupita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies mahiṣī

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Prakaraṇa/Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• punaḥ: again and again
• punaḥ: Prakaraṇa/Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय); repetition for emphasis

Context

Repeatedly struck down by that hunchback's arrow-sharp words greatly grieved queen Kaikeyi was inflamed against the king. Laying her hands on the chest again and again and expressing her amazement, she praised that hunchback.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Mantharā (Kubjā)

FAQs

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

It warns that anger and agitation can invert moral judgment—leading one to praise harmful counsel. Dharma requires steadiness and careful evaluation of advice.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī is emotionally overwhelmed by Mantharā’s repeated provocations; she internalizes them and responds with astonishment and heated approval.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse emphasizes susceptibility and emotional volatility; it implicitly contrasts with the Ramayana ideal of self-control and calm discernment.