Shloka 1

Devanagari script

ज्ञातिदासी यतो जाता कैकेय्यास्तु सहोषिता।प्रासादं चन्द्रसङ्काशमारुरोह यदृच्छया।।।।

Transliteration

jñāti-dāsī yato jātā kaikeyyās tu sahōṣitā |

prāsādaṃ candra-saṅkāśam ārurōha yadṛcchayā ||

Translation

マンタラーは、カイケーイーの一族に仕える侍女で、生まれた時から彼女と共に暮らしていた。そのマンタラーが、月のように輝く宮殿へと偶然登っていった。

Word by Word

ज्ञातिदासीa family maidservant

यतःsince, from when

जाताborn

कैकेय्याःof Kaikeyī

तुindeed

सहtogether with

ऊषिताhaving lived

प्रासादम्palace

चन्द्रसङ्काशम्moon-like, resembling the moon

आरुरोहascended

यदृच्छयाby chance

Context

The family maid (Manthara) of Kaikeyi who had been living with her since her (Kaikeyi's) birth casually ascended the palace gleaming white like the Moon.

Characters & Entities

Mantharā (the family maid)

Kaikeyī

palace (prāsāda)

FAQs

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

The verse sets narrative conditions rather than a direct injunction; ethically, it foreshadows how proximity and influence within a household can shape decisions—highlighting the need for discernment in counsel.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration introduces Mantharā’s movement within the palace as events begin to turn toward Kaikeyī’s crucial choices.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

No explicit virtue is praised; the focus is on narrative setup, preparing for the ethical contrast between righteous rule and manipulative influence.