Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.44 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 44

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

त्वमायताभ्यां सक्थिभ्यां मन्थरे क्षौमवासिनी।।।।अग्रतो मम गच्छन्ती राजहंसीव राजसे।

Transliteration

tvam āyatābhyāṁ sakthibhyāṁ manthare kṣauma-vāsinī |

agratō mama gacchantī rāja-haṁsīva rājase ||

Translation

ഹേ മന്തരേ, സൂക്ഷ്മ ക്ഷൗമവസ്ത്രം ധരിച്ചവളേ, നീ ദീർഘമായ തുടകളോടെ എന്റെ മുമ്പിൽ നടക്കുമ്പോൾ രാജഹംസിനിപോലെ ദീപ്തിയായി തിളങ്ങുന്നു.

Word by Word

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• āyatābhyām: with long/extended
• āyatābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āyata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka/Puṃliṅga usage; Tṛtīyā (3/तृतीया), Dvivacana; qualifying 'sakthibhyām'

• sakthibhyām: with (your) two thighs
• sakthibhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakthi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (often), Tṛtīyā, Dvivacana

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

• kṣaumavāsinī: clad in fine cloth
• kṣaumavāsinī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣauma + vāsinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: kṣauma-vāsinī (dwelling/being clad in linen/silk); Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifying 'tvam'

• agrataḥ: in front
• agrataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agrataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of place (पुरतः)

• mama: of me/my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• gacchantī: walking/going
• gacchantī: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agreeing with 'tvam'

• rājahaṃsī: a royal swan (female)
• rājahaṃsī: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja-haṃsī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: rāja + haṃsī; Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; upamāna

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya

• rājase: you shine
• rājase: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rāj (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Madhyama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Context

O Manthara! when clad in silk garment you walk in front of me with your heavythighs, you look like a female royal swan.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Mantharā

FAQs

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

The verse demonstrates how praise can become a binding strategy that replaces truth-testing. Dharma demands that relationships and admiration not override moral evaluation.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī’s flattery reaches a peak, portraying Mantharā as admirable and authoritative—cementing the counselor’s hold over her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is independence of judgment (svatantra-viveka): not surrendering one’s decision-making to a persuasive companion.