Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.52 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 52

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

तवापि कुब्जाः कुब्जायास्सर्वाभरणभूषिताः।पादौ परिचरिष्यन्ति यथैव त्वं सदा मम।।।।

Transliteration

tavāpi kubjāḥ kubjāyāḥ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitāḥ |

pādau paricariṣyanti yathaiva tvaṃ sadā mama ||

Translation

ഹേ കുബ്ജേ, സർവ്വാഭരണങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ട മറ്റു കുബ്ജകളും നിന്റെ പാദങ്ങളെ സേവിക്കും—നീ എപ്പോഴും എന്റെ പാദസേവ ചെയ്തതുപോലെ.

Word by Word

• तव: of you; your
• तव: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (also/even)

• कुब्जाः: hunchback women
• कुब्जाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुब्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कुब्जायाः: of the hunchback (woman)
• कुब्जायाः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुब्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्व-आभरण-भूषिताः: adorned with all ornaments
• सर्व-आभरण-भूषिताः: विशेषण (Qualifier) (कर्तुः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त; √भूष् क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural) — कुब्जाः इति विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सर्वैः आभरणैः भूषिताः)

• पादौ: (your) two feet
• पादौ: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• परिचरिष्यन्ति: will serve/attend
• परिचरिष्यन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + √चर् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• यथा एव: just as
• यथा एव: उपमान/प्रकार (Manner marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय-समूह (indeclinable phrase): यथा (as) + एव (indeed/just)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject) (उपमान-वाक्ये)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सदा: always
• सदा: कालाधिकरण (Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• मम: of me; my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

You shall move about wearing lovely garments like a goddess. With a peerless countenance, as if challenging the Moon and feeling proud, you will attain a state of eminence amidst your enemies.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Mantharā

FAQs

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

The verse shows how power can distort values: service becomes a currency for domination rather than care. Dharma teaches humility and responsibility, not prideful reversal.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī promises Mantharā a future of elevated status where others will serve her as she has served Kaikeyī.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The desired trait is not virtue but superiority; it contrasts with the epic’s ideal of dignified service grounded in devotion and righteousness.