Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.5: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 5

मन्थराप्रेरणा · वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

हन्तेदानीं प्रवक्ष्यामि कैकेयि श्रूयतां च मे ।

यथा ते भरतो राज्यं पुत्रः प्राप्स्यति केवलम् ॥५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.9.5

Transliteration

hantedānīṃ pravakṣyāmi kaikeyi śrūyatāṃ ca me |

yathā te bharato rājyaṃ putraḥ prāpsyati kevalam ||5||

Translation

さあ今、カイケーイよ、語ろう。私の言葉を聞け――いかにして汝の子バラタただ一人が王権を得るかを。

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Word by Word

• हन्त: well!/come!
• हन्त: Bhāva-nipāta (भाव-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हन्त (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विस्मय/उद्गार (interjection)

• इदानीम्: now
• इदानीम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इदानीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (now)

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I will tell
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कैकेयि: O Kaikeyi
• कैकेयि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• श्रूयताम्: let it be heard/listen
• श्रूयताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया; injunction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आज्ञार्थे (let it be heard / please listen)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

• मे: of me/my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; ‘my’

• यथा: so that
• यथा: Prayojana/Upapada (प्रयोजन/उपपद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/उपपद (as/so that)

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘your’

• भरतः: Bharata
• भरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृसामानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘भरतः’ इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण (apposition)

• प्राप्स्यति: will obtain
• प्राप्स्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• केवलम्: only
• केवलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण (only/alone)

Context

O Kaikeyi, what a joy! I shall now tell you how your son Bharata alone will secure the kingdom. Listen to me:

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Bharata

FAQs

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

The verse shows a deliberate move toward adharma: ambition and favoritism are placed above rightful succession and family duty, warning how persuasion can be used to undermine dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā begins outlining to Kaikeyī a plan to secure the throne exclusively for Bharata, setting the stage for Kaikeyī’s demands and Rāma’s exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not virtue but a vice is highlighted—Mantharā’s cunning and manipulative intent, contrasting with the Ramayana’s ideal of truthful, dharmic counsel.