Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.42 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 42

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

परिपूर्णं तु जघनं सुपीनौ च पयोधरौ।।।।विमलेन्दुसमं वक्त्रमहोराजसि मन्थरे।

Transliteration

paripūrṇaṁ tu jaghanaṁ supīnau ca payodharau |

vimalendu-samaṁ vaktram aho rājasi manthare ||

Translation

നിന്റെ ജഘനം പരിപൂർണ്ണം; നിന്റെ പയോധരങ്ങൾ രണ്ടും വൃത്തവും ദൃഢവും. നിന്റെ മുഖം നിർമല ചന്ദ്രനെപ്പോലെ—അഹോ മന്തരെ, നീ എത്ര ദീപ്തിമതിയാണ്!

Word by Word

• paripūrṇam: full/well-rounded
• paripūrṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-pṝ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle, Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifying 'jaghanam'

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta, contrast/emphasis

• jaghanam: hips/buttocks
• jaghanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaghana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• supīnau: very plump/firm
• supīnau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-pīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya su+pīna; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; qualifying 'payodharau'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• payodharau: breasts
• payodharau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: payodhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) payas+dhara; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana

• vimalendusamam: equal to the spotless moon
• vimalendusamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vimala-indu-sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (विमलः इन्दुः) + sama; Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifying 'vaktram'

• vaktram: face/countenance
• vaktram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• aho: ah!/how!
• aho: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: Vismaya-nipāta (विस्मय-निपात), exclamation

• rājasi: you shine/appear splendid
• rājasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rāj (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• manthare: O Mantharā
• manthare: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Sambodhana (सम्बोधन), Ekavacana

Context

You have full hips, round and plump breasts. Your countenance equals the bright moon. How passionate you look, Manthara!

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Mantharā

FAQs

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

The verse serves as a cautionary example: ethical decline can be accompanied by indulgent praise and loss of principled focus, moving away from satya-centered judgment.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī, pleased with Mantharā’s counsel, continues to flatter her with ornate compliments.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is integrity of mind: keeping one’s priorities aligned with dharma rather than emotional gratification.