Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 36
मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च
Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons
अनर्थमर्थरूपेण ग्राहिता सा ततस्तया।।।।हृष्टा प्रतीता कैकेयी मन्थरामिदमब्रवीत्।
anartham artha-rūpeṇa grāhitā sā tatas tayā |
hṛṣṭā pratītā kaikeyī mantharām idam abravīt ||
त्यानंतर मंथराने अनर्थालाच अर्थरूप देऊन तिला स्वीकारायला लावले. आनंदित व खात्री पटलेली कैकेयी मंथराला हे म्हणाली।
That Kaikeyi, even though endowed with sound foresight, expressed her sense of wonder at the words of the hunchback and chose a wrong path like a young (immature) girl.
FAQs
Adharma can appear as ‘artha’ (advantage). The verse underlines the need for discernment (viveka): ethical choices must be judged by truth and righteousness, not by persuasive framing.
Mantharā has successfully manipulated Kaikeyī; Kaikeyī now responds, pleased and persuaded by the deceptive counsel.
The virtue emphasized by absence is wisdom/discrimination: Kaikeyī’s failure to see ‘anartha’ as anartha becomes the turning point that threatens dharma in Ayodhyā.