Valmiki Ramayana 2.78.7 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 78, Shloka 7

अष्टसप्ततितमः सर्गः — Śatrughna’s Fury and Bharata’s Restraint

Mantharā Episode

Devanagari script

मेखलादामभिश्चित्रैरन्यैश्च शुभभूषणैः।बभासे बहुभिर्बद्धा रज्जुबद्धेव वानरी।।।।

Transliteration

mekhalādāmabhiś citrair anyaiś ca śubhabhūṣaṇaiḥ |

babhāse bahubhir baddhā rajjubaddheva vānarī ||

Translation

ವರ್ಣವರ್ಣದ ಮೆಖಲಾದಾಮಗಳೂ ಇತರ ಶುಭಾಭರಣಗಳೂ ಬಹಳವಾಗಿ ಕಟ್ಟಲ್ಪಟ್ಟಿದ್ದ ಆಕೆ, ರಜ್ಜುಗಳಿಂದ ಕಟ್ಟಿದ ವಾನರಿಯಂತೆ ಕಂಗೊಳಿಸಿದಳು.

Word by Word

• मेखलादामभिः: with girdles and strings
• मेखलादामभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेखलादाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Plural); समास: मेखला च दाम च (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व)

• चित्रैः: variegated/colored
• चित्रैः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Plural); मेखलादामभिः/भूषणैः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अन्यैः: with other
• अन्यैः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Plural); शुभभूषणैः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शुभभूषणैः: with auspicious ornaments
• शुभभूषणैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभभूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Plural); समास: शुभानि भूषणानि (कर्मधारय)

• बभासे: shone
• बभासे: क्रिया (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भास् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (3rd person singular, Perfect, Ātmanepada)

• बहुभिः: with many
• बहुभिः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Plural); रज्जु/बन्धन-प्रकारस्य विशेषणम्

• बद्धा: bound/tied
• बद्धा: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)

• रज्जुबद्धा: tied with ropes
• रज्जुबद्धा: उपमान (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रज्जु + बद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular); समास: रज्जुभिः बद्धा (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा-सूचक (Comparative marker/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• वानरी: female monkey
• वानरी: उपमेय (Subject compared/उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)

Context

Tied with colourful girdle strings and wearing many other auspicious ornaments, shelooked like a female monkey tied with a rope.

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā

FAQs

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

The simile warns against vanity and moral disorder: when one is ‘bound’ by desire and deceit, dignity is lost despite ornamentation—dharma requires self-restraint and truthfulness.

What is the narrative situation?

A vivid poetic comparison portrays Mantharā’s appearance, preparing the reader for the hostile reception she will face.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control (dama): the implied contrast is between being bound by impulses versus living under dharma.