Valmiki Ramayana 2.7.24 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 24

मन्थराप्रवेशः

Manthara Observes Ayodhya and Incites Kaikeyi

Devanagari script

धर्मावादी शठो भर्ता श्लक्ष्णवादी च दारुणः।शुद्धभावे न जानीषे तेनैव मतिसन्धिता।।।।

Transliteration

dharmāvādī śaṭho bhartā ślakṣṇavādī ca dāruṇaḥ | śuddhabhāve na jānīṣe tenaiva matisandhitā ||

Translation

നിന്റെ ഭർത്താവ് ധർമ്മം പ്രസംഗിക്കുന്നുവെങ്കിലും ശഠനാണ്; മൃദുവായി സംസാരിച്ചാലും ദാരുണനാണ്. നീ ശുദ്ധഭാവമുള്ളവളായതിനാൽ അവനാൽ തന്നെ നിന്റെ ബുദ്ധി കുടുങ്ങി; അതുകൊണ്ട് നീ അവനെ തിരിച്ചറിയുന്നില്ല.

Word by Word

• dharma-vādī: one who speaks of dharma
• dharma-vādī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + vādī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विषय-तत्पुरुषः: ‘dharmaṃ vadati’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (bhartā)

• śaṭhaḥ: deceitful
• śaṭhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (bhartā)

• bhartā: husband
• bhartā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ślakṣṇa-vādī: soft-spoken
• ślakṣṇa-vādī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ślakṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vādī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारयवत्: ‘ślakṣṇaṃ vadati’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (bhartā)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• dāruṇaḥ: cruel
• dāruṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (bhartā)

• śuddha-bhāve: in (your) innocent nature
• śuddha-bhāve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास, पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Niṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (negation)

• jānīṣe: you know, you understand
• jānīṣe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• tena: by him/thereby
• tena: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• eva: indeed, only
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• mati-sandhitā: your mind is deluded/ensnared
• mati-sandhitā: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक) + sandhita (प्रातिपदिक; √dhā with sam-√dhā/√dhā)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्म-तत्पुरुषः: ‘matiṃ sandadhāti’/‘matiḥ sandhitā’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (tvam implied)

Context

Your husband speaks morals publicly but in private he is deceitful. He speaks gently but acts cruelly. Because of your innocent nature you are beguiled by him. You do not understand this.

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā
• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha
• Dharma (as rhetoric)

FAQs

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

It warns against using dharma-language without satya (truth) and integrity; dharma is not merely speech but consistent conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā maligns Daśaratha’s character to break Kaikeyī’s trust and justify opposition to Rāma’s consecration.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment (viveka) is implicitly demanded: one must judge actions, not be swayed by sweet words.