Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 38
मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च
Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons
कुब्जे त्वां नाभिजानामि श्रेष्ठां श्रेष्ठाभिथायिनीम्।।।।पृथिव्यामसि कुब्जानामुत्तमा बुद्धिनिश्चये।
kubje tvāṁ nābhijānāmi śreṣṭhāṁ śreṣṭhābhidhāyinīm |
pṛthivyām asi kubjānām uttamā buddhi-niścaye ||
おお、せむしの女よ。そなたがかくも優れ、かくも高き助言を語る者とは知らなかった。この世において、せむしの中でそなたは決断の堅さにおいて第一である。
O hunchback !you alone always show interest in my affairs and seek my welfare. I might not have known the intended (deceptive) action of the king (without you).
FAQs
The verse illustrates how misplaced praise can validate unethical advice. Dharma requires testing counsel against truth and justice, not against personal liking or novelty.
Having been persuaded, Kaikeyī begins to admire Mantharā’s counsel and openly commends her.
The virtue at stake is discernment in choosing advisers; Kaikeyī’s admiration shows a lapse in evaluating counsel by dharmic standards.