Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.46 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 46

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

तवेदं स्थगु यद्दीर्घं रथघोणमिवायतम्।।।।मतयः क्षत्रविद्याश्च मायाश्चात्र वसन्ति ते।

Transliteration

tavedam sthagu yad dīrghaṃ rathaghoṇam ivāyatam |

matayaḥ kṣatravidyāś ca māyāś cātra vasanti te ||

Translation

രഥത്തിന്റെ നാഭിപോലെ വിശാലമായ നിന്റെ ആ ദീർഘ കൂമ്പ്—അതിൽ നിന്റെ കപടയുക്തികളും, ക്ഷത്രിയസദൃശമായ തന്ത്രങ്ങളും, മായാവിദ്യകളും വസിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• sthagu: hump
• sthagu: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthagu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; colloquial/rare noun for hump

• yat: which
• yat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; relative pronoun referring to 'sthagu'

• dīrgham: long
• dīrgham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifying 'sthagu'

• rathaghoṇam: a chariot-hub (gudgeon/hub-part)
• rathaghoṇam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha-ghoṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ratha + ghoṇa; Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; upamāna

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

• āyatam: broad/extended
• āyatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āyata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifying 'sthagu'

• matayaḥ: thoughts/intentions
• matayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• kṣatravidyāḥ: kṣatriya-skills/arts of statecraft
• kṣatravidyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatra-vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: kṣatra + vidyā; Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

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

• māyāḥ: deceptions/arts
• māyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

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

• atra: here/in this (hump)
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of place

• vasanti: reside/dwell
• vasanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• te: your/of you
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

Context

O hunchback, with Rama gone to the forest and Bharata consecrated, I shall drape this hump with a golden garland.

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how adharma can be normalized through praise. Dharmic counsel should be rooted in truth and welfare, not in deceit or self-serving strategy.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī continues flattering Mantharā, attributing her ‘statecraft’ and deceptive capacity to her hump in a mocking yet approving tone.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Negative traits are spotlighted: cunning and manipulative planning, presented as ‘skill,’ contrasting with the Ramayana’s ideal of upright, truthful wisdom.