Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.7 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 7

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

मयोच्यमानं यदि ते श्रोतुं छन्दो विलासिनि।श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि श्रुत्वा चापि विमृश्यताम्।।।।

Transliteration

mayocyamānaṃ yadi te śrotuṃ chando vilāsini। śrūyatāmabhidhāsyāmi śrutvā cāpi vimṛśyatām॥

Translation

ഛന്ദോവിലാസിനിയായ സുന്ദരിയേ! ഞാൻ പറയുന്നതു കേൾക്കാൻ നിനക്കിഷ്ടമെങ്കിൽ കേൾക്കുക; ഞാൻ പറയാം. കേട്ടശേഷം അതിനെക്കുറിച്ച് നീ ചിന്തിച്ചും മനനം ചെയ്തും കാണുക.

Word by Word

• मया: by me
• मया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन

• उच्यमानम्: being said
• उच्यमानम्: Karma (कर्म; object of ‘श्रोतुम्’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + यमान (कृदन्त; कर्मणि वर्तमान)
• Form: कर्मणि वर्तमानकृदन्त (present passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘[वचनम्]’ understood

• यदि: if
• यदि: Hetu/Śarta (हेतु/शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, शर्त (conditional: if)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान; intended hearer)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘to you/for you’ sense contextually (genitive-dative overlap)

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन् (infinitive)

• छन्दः: desire/pleasure
• छन्दः: Karta (कर्ता; ‘it is your wish’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘desire/pleasure’

• विलासिनि: O graceful one
• विलासिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विलासिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• श्रूयताम्: listen
• श्रूयताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘please listen’

• अभिधास्यामि: I will tell
• अभिधास्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-धा (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): having heard

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

• अपि: also
• अपि: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अवधारण (also/even)

• विमृश्यताम्: reflect/consider
• विमृश्यताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया; injunction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-मृश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘let it be reflected upon’

Context

O lovely Kaikeyi! if it pleases you to hear from me, I shall tell you. Listen and think over it, too.

Characters & Entities

• Manthara
• Kaikeyi

FAQs

Why does Manthara ask Kaikeyi to 'reflect' (vimṛśyatām) on her words?

Manthara is about to present a distorted view of Dharma and politics to incite fear in Kaikeyi regarding Rama's coronation. She asks Kaikeyi to reflect to ensure the manipulation sinks deep into her psyche, turning her affection for Rama into suspicion.

What is the significance of the address 'Vilasini' in this context?

Manthara uses the term 'Vilasini' (lovely or playful woman) to flatter Kaikeyi. By appealing to her vanity and status, Manthara prepares the ground to convince Kaikeyi that her beauty and position are threatened by Kausalya's rise.