Valmiki Ramayana 2.10.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 10, Shloka 4

क्रोधागारप्रवेशः · Entry into the Chamber of Wrath

Kaikeyī’s Protest

Setting: Ayodhyā palace (Kaikeyī's apartments)

Devanagari script

सा सुहृच्चार्थकामा च तं निशम्य सुनिश्चयम् ॥४॥

बभूव परमप्रीता सिध्दिं प्राप्येव मन्थरा ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.10.4

Transliteration

sā suhṛc cārthakāmā ca taṃ niśamya suniścayam ||4||

babhūva paramaprītā siddhiṃ prāpyeva mantharā |

Translation

കൈകേയിയുടെ സുഹൃത്തും അവളുടെ ലക്ഷ്യം സഫലമാകണമെന്നാഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നവളുമായ മന്തറ, കൈകേയിയുടെ ദൃഢനിശ്ചയം കേട്ടപ്പോൾ, വിജയം കൈവന്നതുപോലെ അത്യന്തം ആനന്ദിതയായി.

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Word by Word

• sā: she
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• suhṛt: a friend
• Type: Noun
• Root: suhṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Feminine (उभयलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); here ‘friend’ as predicate/apposition
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• artha-kāmā: desiring the accomplishment (of the aim)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: artha + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘desiring the purpose/goal (to be achieved)’; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies mantharā
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• tam: that
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); refers to niścaya
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• niśamya: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√śam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• suniścayam: the firm resolve
• Type: Noun
• Root: su + niścaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘good/firm decision’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• babhūva: became
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• parama-prītā: highly delighted
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama + prīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘supremely pleased’; Past participle (क्त) used adjectivally; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• siddhim: success/accomplishment
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• prāpya: having obtained
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√āp (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• iva: as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle (उपमार्थक अव्यय)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• mantharā: Mantharā
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

Sandhi Notes

• suhṛccārthakāmā→suhṛt ca artha-kāmā
• prāpyēva→prāpya iva
• sidhdiṅ→siddhim

Context

Manthara, Kaikeyi's friend, too, driven by a strong desire to fulfil her resolve was highly pleased and on hearing the firm determination of Kaikeyi, felt as if the accomplishment of the objective was at hand.

The teaching

Bad counsel rejoices at another's hardened resolve; therefore one must guard the mind and choose advisors rooted in dharma.

Duties in tension

• Kaikeyī's duty as queen to uphold family harmony and rājadharma
• Kaikeyī's personal desire/jealousy inflamed by counsel
• Mantharā's duty of loyal service vs. harmful manipulation

Ethical theme

Nīti / adharma through counsel

How it resolves

Escalation (adharmic counsel strengthens resolve)

For your practice

Vigilance (apramāda) in choosing saṅga and counsel; cultivate sattva through satsanga and self-inquiry.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Raudra (fury), with Bibhatsa (disgust)

Mood

Scheming, triumphant, ominous

Themes

• Itihasa
• Dharma
• Ethics
• Manipulation
• Adharma (implicit)

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

The verse warns that counsel driven by self-serving “success” can oppose dharma; delight in another’s harmful resolve is ethically suspect.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā reacts with joy after learning that Kaikeyī has firmly decided to act—setting the stage for the coming demand upon Daśaratha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not virtue but a vice: opportunistic zeal and manipulative encouragement, contrasted implicitly with dharmic counsel.