Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 50

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

परिधाय शुभे वस्त्रे देवतेव चरिष्यसि।।।।चन्द्रमाह्वयमानेन मुखेनाप्रतिमानना।गमिष्यसि गतिं मुख्यां गर्वयन्ती द्विषज्जनम्।।।।

Transliteration

paridhāya śubhe vastre devateva cariṣyasi |

candram āhvayamānena mukhenāpratimānanā |

gamiṣyasi gatiṃ mukhyāṃ garvayantī dviṣajjanam ||

Translation

吉祥なる衣をまとえば、おまえは女神のように歩むであろう。月をも呼び競うかのごとき比類なき顔をもって、最高の栄位へと至り、敵する者の中にあっても誇り高く立つ。

Word by Word

• paridhāya: having put on/wearing
• paridhāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-dhā (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal form; prior action to main verb

• śubhe: auspicious
• śubhe: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Dvivacana; qualifying 'vastre'

• vastre: two garments/clothes
• vastre: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Dvivacana

• devatā: a goddess
• devatā: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; upamāna

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya

• cariṣyasi: you will move about
• cariṣyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (Future), Madhyama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• candram: the moon
• candram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of 'āhvayamānena' (metaphorically)

• āhvayamānena: calling/challenging (as if calling the moon)
• āhvayamānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-hvā (धातु) + śānac (शानच्)
• Form: Present middle participle (शानच्), Napumsaka/Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; qualifying 'mukhena'

• mukhena: with (your) face
• mukhena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• apratimānanā: having an incomparable face
• apratimānanā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-pratimā + ānanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi: apratimā (without equal) + ānanā (face); Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; addressing/qualifying 'tvam'

• gamiṣyasi: you will attain/go
• gamiṣyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (Future), Madhyama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• gatim: state/condition/way
• gatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• mukhyām: chief/excellent
• mukhyām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifying 'gatim'

• garvayantī: making (them) proud; exulting over
• garvayantī: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: garvaya (causative stem from garv) (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agreeing with 'tvam'

• dviṣatjanam: the hostile people/enemies
• dviṣatjanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dviṣat-jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: dviṣat (enemy) + jana (people); Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

Context

You shall move about wearing lovely garments like a goddess. With a peerless countenance, as if challenging the Moon and feeling proud, you will attain a state ofeminence amidst your enemies.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Mantharā
• Moon (Candra)

FAQs

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

The verse warns that pride and social elevation gained through unethical means are unstable. Dharma values honor earned through truth and right action, not through intrigue.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī elaborates the grandeur and public prestige Mantharā will enjoy once their political goal is achieved.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The trait emphasized is vanity (garva) rather than virtue, highlighting how ego can be used as fuel for morally harmful decisions.