Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 49
मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च
Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons
मुखे च तिलकं चित्रं जातरूपमयं शुभम्।।।।कारयिष्यामि ते कुब्जे शुभान्याभरणानि च।
mukhe ca tilakaṃ citraṃ jātarūpamayaṃ śubham |
kārayiṣyāmi te kubje śubhāny ābharaṇāni ca ||
ಹೇ ಕುಬ್ಜೆಯೇ, ನಿನ್ನ ಮುಖಕ್ಕೆ ಚಿತ್ರವಂತೆ ಶುಭವಾದ ಜಾತರೂಪಮಯ (ಸುವರ್ಣಮಯ) ತಿಲಕವನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿಸಿಕೊಡುವೆನು; ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ನಿನಗಾಗಿ ಶುಭ ಆಭರಣಗಳನ್ನೂ ತಯಾರಿಸಿಸುವೆನು.
O Kaikeyi, what a joy! I shall now tell you how your son Bharata alone will secure the kingdom. Listen to me:
FAQs
External adornment is used to validate harmful counsel. Dharma teaching: inner integrity and truthful intention matter more than rewards and display.
Kaikeyī continues promising status-symbols to Mantharā as payment for her plotting and persuasion.
Misplaced generosity—giving is separated from righteousness, showing how a good impulse becomes ethically compromised when serving adharma.