Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 57

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

तथा प्रोत्साहिता देवी गत्वा मन्थरया सह।क्रोधागारं विशालाक्षी सौभाग्यमदगर्विता।।2.9.55।।अनेकशतसाहस्रं मुक्ताहारं वराङ्गना।अवमुच्य वरार्हाणि शुभान्याभरणानि च।।2.9.56।।ततो हेमोपमा तत्र कुब्जावाक्यवशं गता।संविश्य भूमौ कैकेयी मन्थरामिदमब्रवीत्।।2.9.57।।

Transliteration

tato hemopamā tatra kubjā-vākya-vaśaṃ gatā | saṃviśya bhūmau kaikeyī mantharām idam abravīt ||

Translation

そのとき、黄金のごとく輝くカイケーイーは、しかし今やせむし女の言葉に従わされ、そこに地に伏してマンタラーに次のように語った。

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in that way
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययम् (क्रियाविशेषणम्) — indeclinable adverb

• प्रोत्साहिता: encouraged, urged on
• प्रोत्साहिता: विशेषणम् (Qualifier of देवी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-उत्साहि (धातु: उत्साहयति/उत्साह्) → प्रोत्साहित (कृदन्त) + टाप्
• Form: कृदन्त-विशेषणम्; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा विभक्तिः एकवचनम् — feminine nominative singular

• देवी: the queen, lady
• देवी: कर्ता (Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक: देवी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः; प्रथमा विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् — feminine nominative singular

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action to main verb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (पूर्वकालक्रिया) — gerund/absolutive “having done/after doing”

• मन्थरया: with Mantharā
• मन्थरया: सहकारक/सहयोग (Associate; with saha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्थरा (प्रातिपदिक: मन्थरा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः; तृतीया विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् — feminine instrumental singular

• सह: together with
• सह: सहकारक-निर्देशक (Marker of association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (सह-प्रयोगः; उपसर्गसदृशः) — indeclinable postposition “with” (governs instrumental)

• क्रोधागारम्: the chamber of wrath
• क्रोधागारम्: कर्म (Goal/object of motion with गत्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध + आगार (प्रातिपदिके) → क्रोधागार (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः; द्वितीया विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् — neuter accusative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्रोधस्य आगारम्)

• विशालाक्षी: large-eyed
• विशालाक्षी: विशेषणम् (Qualifier of देवी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशाल + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिके) → विशालाक्षि (समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः; प्रथमा विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् — feminine nominative singular; बहुव्रीहिः (विशालानि अक्षी यस्याः सा)

• सौभाग्यमदगर्विता: proud, intoxicated with her good fortune/beauty
• सौभाग्यमदगर्विता: विशेषणम् (Qualifier of देवी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौभाग्य + मद + गर्वित (कृदन्त) + टाप् (समास)
• Form: कृदन्त-विशेषणम्; स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा विभक्तिः एकवचनम् — feminine nominative singular; तत्पुरुषसमासः (सौभाग्यस्य मदेन गर्विता)

Context

That beautiful, largeeyed Kaikeyi, puffed with the pride of her intoxicating beauty, encourged and influenced by the words of that hunchback, entered the chamber of wrath. She cast off her highly precious pearl necklace worth many hundreds of thousands (of rupees) and other costly, beautiful ornaments. Thereafter that goldenhued Kaikeyi lay down on the floor and said to Manthara:

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Mantharā

FAQs

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

Dharma requires discernment (viveka) and right counsel; surrendering one’s will to harmful persuasion is portrayed as a moral and political failing.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī assumes a posture of protest in the Chamber of Wrath and prepares to articulate demands shaped by Mantharā’s instigation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

A warning about the loss of autonomy: susceptibility to manipulation is highlighted rather than any virtue.