Valmiki Ramayana 2.7.2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 2

मन्थराप्रवेशः · Manthara Observes Ayodhya and Incites Kaikeyi

Setting: अयोध्या (palace precincts; view from a prāsāda)

Devanagari script

सिक्तराजपथां कृत्स्नां प्रकीर्णकुसुमोत्कराम् ।

अयोध्यां मन्थरा तस्मात्प्रासादादन्ववैक्षत ॥२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.7.2

Transliteration

siktarājapathāṃ kṛtsnāṃ prakīrṇakusumotkarām |

ayodhyāṃ mantharā tasmāt prāsādād anvavaikṣata ||2||

Translation

その宮殿からマンタラーは外を眺め、アヨーディヤーの全てを見渡した。王の大路は新たに水を撒かれ、花がうず高く散り敷かれ、祝祭の荘厳に整えられていた。

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Word by Word

• सिक्तराजपथाम्: with sprinkled royal roads
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिक्त-राजपथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: सिक्तः राजपथः यस्याः ‘whose royal roads are sprinkled’ (qualifies अयोध्याम्)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• कृत्स्नाम्: entire
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of अयोध्याम्
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• प्रकीर्णकुसुमोत्कराम्: strewn with heaps of flowers
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकीर्ण-कुसुम-उत्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: प्रकीर्णः कुसुमोत्करः यस्याः ‘strewn with heaps of flowers’
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• अयोध्याम्: Ayodhyā
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नगरनाम (proper noun)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• मन्थरा: Mantharā
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्थरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• तस्मात्: from that
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; ‘from that’
• Role: Apādāna (अपादान)

• प्रासादात्: from the palace
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रासाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन
• Role: Apādāna (अपादान)

• अन्ववैक्षत: beheld
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-आ-ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘looked at, beheld’
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• तस्मात्प्रासादात् = तस्मात् + प्रासादात् (त् + प्)

Context

Manthara beheld from that palace the whole of Ayodhya with its highways sprinkled with water and strewn with a lot of flowers.

The teaching

Public auspiciousness can coexist with unseen private intentions; vigilance is needed when power transitions are imminent.

Ethical theme

राजनीति/प्रमाद (political prudence; heedlessness)

For your practice

Contemplation on impermanence of external splendor; cultivate inner steadiness amid worldly celebration.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Shringara (love)

Mood

Festive, glittering, anticipatory

Themes

• Itihasa
• Narrative
• Kingship
• Public celebration
• Dharma (implied social order)

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā
• Ayodhyā
• palace (prāsāda)

FAQs

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

Dharma appears indirectly as civic order and royal propriety: the city’s disciplined, auspicious preparation reflects a kingdom functioning in harmony under righteous governance.

What is the narrative situation?

Ayodhyā is being decorated for an imminent royal ceremony; Mantharā observes the festive city from the palace, setting up her later interference.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a personal virtue, but the collective virtue of orderly public conduct—cleanliness, auspiciousness, and respect for royal rites.