Shloka 8

मन्थराप्रवेशः

Manthara Observes Ayodhya and Incites Kaikeyi

Devanagari script

उत्तमेनाभिसंयुक्ता हर्षेणार्थपरा सती।राममाता धनं किन्नु जनेभ्यस्सम्प्रयच्छति।।।।

Transliteration

uttamenābhisaṃyuktā harṣeṇārthaparā satī |

rāmamātā dhanaṃ kiṃ nu janebhyaḥ samprayacchati || 2.7.8 ||

Translation

財を重んじると知られるラーマの母は、いま比類なき歓喜に満ちて、なぜ人々に財宝を施しているのか。

Word by Word

• उत्तमेन: with excellent
• उत्तमेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (करण) एकवचनम्; हर्षेण इत्यस्य विशेषणम्: 'with excellent (joy)'

• अभिसंयुक्ता: endowed (with)
• अभिसंयुक्ता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-सम्-√युज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle) स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; 'endowed/possessed'

• हर्षेण: with joy
• हर्षेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (करण) एकवचनम्

• अर्थ-परā: intent on wealth
• अर्थ-परā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् राममाता प्रति; समासार्थः: अर्थे परा = 'intent on wealth'

• सती: being/indeed
• सती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; participial adjective: 'being/indeed' (emphatic)

• राम-माता: Rama's mother
• राम-माता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + माता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (कर्ता) एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'Rama's mother'

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचनम्

• किम्: why
• किम्: Prayojana/Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रश्न (interrogative particle): 'why/what?'

• नु: indeed/then (emphatic)
• नु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (particle) प्रश्न/निश्चयार्थक-बलवर्धनम्

• जनेभ्यः: to the people
• जनेभ्यः: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान) बहुवचनम्

• सम्प्रयच्छति: gives away/bestows
• सम्प्रयच्छति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-√यम्/√यच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

Context

Why is Rama's mother, forever interested in the accumulation of money gifting away her wealth to men with great joy?

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā
• Rāma
• janāḥ (people)

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts two impulses: dharmic dāna (generosity) as a response to auspicious events, and the tendency to interpret virtue through suspicion—warning how bias can distort moral perception.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā, unsettled by the celebration, notices gifts being distributed and questions the attendant about why Rāma’s mother is giving away wealth so joyfully.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Generosity (implied in the act of giving), though filtered through Mantharā’s doubtful framing—foreshadowing her manipulative role later.