Valmiki Ramayana 2.7.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 16

मन्थराप्रवेशः · Manthara Observes Ayodhya and Incites Kaikeyi

Devanagari script

एवमुक्ता तु कैकेयी रुष्टया परुषं वचः ।

कुब्जया पापदर्शिन्या विषादमगमत्परम् ॥१६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.7.16

Transliteration

evam uktā tu kaikeyī ruṣṭayā paruṣaṃ vacaḥ |

kubjayā pāpadarśinyā viṣādam agamat param ||16||

Translation

ಕೋಪದಿಂದ ತುಂಬಿದ ಪಾಪದೃಷ್ಟಿಯ ಕುಬ್ಜೆಯ ಕಠೋರ ವಚನಗಳನ್ನು ಕೇಳಿ ಕೈಕೇಯಿ ಪರಮ ವಿಷಾದಕ್ಕೆ ಒಳಗಾದಳು.

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Word by Word

• evam: thus, in this way
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

• uktā: having been addressed
• uktā: Karta (कर्ता) (of implied state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘having been spoken to/ addressed’

• tu: but, indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/conjunction)

• kaikeyī: Kaikeyi
• kaikeyī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ruṣṭayā: in anger, being enraged
• ruṣṭayā: Hetu/Kāraṇa (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ruṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; √ruṣ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण (instrumental of state/attendant circumstance)

• paruṣam: harsh
• paruṣam: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• vacaḥ: words, speech
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• kubjayā: by the hunchback (Mantharā)
• kubjayā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kubjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• pāpa-darśinyā: evil-looking, wicked-eyed
• pāpa-darśinyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + darśinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारयवत्/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘pāpaṃ darśayati/paśyati’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण (kubjayā)

• viṣādam: despondency
• viṣādam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• agamat: went to, fell into, attained
• agamat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• param: great, extreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (viṣādam)

Context

At these harsh words of the furious, evil-eyed hunchback Kaikeyi fell into great despondency.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Mantharā (kubjā)

FAQs

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

It highlights the dharmic importance of right speech: cruel or manipulative words can unseat another’s mental balance, leading them away from righteous decision-making.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā’s verbal attack successfully unsettles Kaikeyī, plunging her into anxiety and sorrow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The need for emotional steadiness and discernment; Kaikeyī’s vulnerability to despair becomes the opening for further manipulation.