Valmiki Ramayana 2.7.2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 2

मन्थराप्रवेशः

Manthara Observes Ayodhya and Incites Kaikeyi

Devanagari script

सिक्तराजपथां कृत्स्नां प्रकीर्णकुसुमोत्कराम्।अयोध्यां मन्थरा तस्मात्प्रासादादन्ववैक्षत।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.7.2

Transliteration

siktarājapathāṃ kṛtsnāṃ prakīrṇakusumotkarām | ayodhyāṃ mantharā tasmāt prāsādād anvavaikṣata ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ മന്തറ ആ പ്രാസാദത്തിൽ നിന്നു പുറത്തേക്കു നോക്കി; ജലസിഞ്ചനം ചെയ്ത രാജപഥങ്ങളും പുഷ്പക്കൂമ്പാരങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടതുമായ, ഉത്സവശോഭയിൽ സജ്ജമായ സമസ്ത അയോധ്യയും അവൾ കണ്ടു.

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Word by Word

• सिक्तराजपथाम्: with sprinkled royal roads
• सिक्तराजपथाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिक्त-राजपथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: सिक्तः राजपथः यस्याः ‘whose royal roads are sprinkled’ (qualifies अयोध्याम्)

• कृत्स्नाम्: entire
• कृत्स्नाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of अयोध्याम्

• प्रकीर्णकुसुमोत्कराम्: strewn with heaps of flowers
• प्रकीर्णकुसुमोत्कराम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकीर्ण-कुसुम-उत्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: प्रकीर्णः कुसुमोत्करः यस्याः ‘strewn with heaps of flowers’

• अयोध्याम्: Ayodhyā
• अयोध्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नगरनाम (proper noun)

• मन्थरा: Mantharā
• मन्थरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्थरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तस्मात्: from that
• तस्मात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; ‘from that’

• प्रासादात्: from the palace
• प्रासादात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रासाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• अन्ववैक्षत: beheld
• अन्ववैक्षत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-आ-ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘looked at, beheld’

Context

Tomorrow under the spell of the Pushya star, king Dasaratha will consecrate blameless Rama born in the race of Raghu as heir-apparent (the maid said).

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā
• Ayodhyā
• palace (prāsāda)

FAQs

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

Dharma appears indirectly as civic order and royal propriety: the city’s disciplined, auspicious preparation reflects a kingdom functioning in harmony under righteous governance.

What is the narrative situation?

Ayodhyā is being decorated for an imminent royal ceremony; Mantharā observes the festive city from the palace, setting up her later interference.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a personal virtue, but the collective virtue of orderly public conduct—cleanliness, auspiciousness, and respect for royal rites.