Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.26: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 26

मन्थराप्रेरणा · वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

न ह्यतिक्रमितुं शक्तस्तव वाक्यं महीपतिः ।

मन्दस्वभावे बुध्यस्व सौभाग्यबलमात्मनः ॥२६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.9.26

Transliteration

na hyatikramituṃ śaktastava vākyaṃ mahīpatiḥ |

mandasvabhāve budhyasva saubhāgyabalamātmanaḥ ||26||

Translation

ഭൂമിപതി നിന്റെ വാക്ക് ലംഘിക്കാൻ തീർച്ചയായും അശക്തനാണ്. ഹേ ലളിതസ്വഭാവിനി, നിന്റെ സൗഭാഗ്യത്തിന്റെയും ആകർഷണത്തിന്റെയും ബലം തിരിച്ചറിയുക.

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Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Nishedha-nipāta (निषेध-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (indeed)

• अतिक्रमितुम्: to transgress
• अतिक्रमितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-√क्रम् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive)

• शक्तः: able
• शक्तः: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (प्रधान-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• तव: your
• तव: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: word/command
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• महीपतिः: the king
• महीपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘lord of the earth’)

• मन्दस्वभावे: O mean-natured one
• मन्दस्वभावे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन (Vocative); कर्मधारयः (‘of dull/mean nature’)

• बुध्यस्व: understand/realize
• बुध्यस्व: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सौभाग्यबलम्: the power of your fortune/beauty
• सौभाग्यबलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभाग्य (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘power of good fortune/beauty’)

• आत्मनः: of yourself
• आत्मनः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (Genitive singular)

Context

The king would not dare transgress your words. O wicked woman!, recognise the power of your beauty.

Characters & Entities

• Mahipati (Dasharatha)
• Kaikeyi

FAQs

Why does Manthara address Kaikeyi as 'mandasvabhāve'?

Manthara calls Kaikeyi 'mandasvabhāve' (foolish or naive natured) to chide her for not recognizing the immense political power and influence she holds over King Dasharatha due to his love for her.

What is the core argument Manthara presents in this verse?

Manthara argues that King Dasharatha is emotionally unable to refuse Kaikeyi's requests, urging the Queen to leverage her 'saubhāgyabalam' (power of fortune/beauty) to secure the throne for Bharata.