Valmiki Ramayana 2.7.17: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 17

मन्थराप्रवेशः · Manthara Observes Ayodhya and Incites Kaikeyi

Spoken by Kaikeyi to MantharaSetting: Ayodhyā (Kaikeyī’s apartments)

Devanagari script

कैकेयी त्वब्रवीत्कुब्जां कच्चित्क्षेमं नु मन्थरे ।

विषण्णवदनां हि त्वां लक्षये भृशदुःखिताम् ॥१७॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.7.17

Transliteration

kaikeyī tv abravīt kubjāṃ kaccit kṣemaṃ nu manthare |

viṣaṇṇavadanāṃ hi tvāṃ lakṣaye bhṛśaduḥkhitām ||17||

Translation

Kaikeyī berkata kepada si bongkok: “Wahai Mantharā, adakah semuanya sejahtera? Aku melihat wajahmu muram; engkau tampak sangat berdukacita.”

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Word by Word

• kaikeyī: Kaikeyi
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• tu: but, then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)
• Role: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)

• abravīt: said, spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• kubjām: to the hunchback (Mantharā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kubjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म) (addressee)

• kaccit: I hope?, is it the case that...?
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kaccit (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (interrogative particle)
• Role: Prashna (प्रश्न)

• kṣemam: well-being, safety
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣema (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• nu: indeed?, pray
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (interrogative/emphatic particle)
• Role: Prashna (प्रश्न)

• manthare: O Mantharā
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• viṣaṇṇa-vadanām: with a dejected face
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣaṇṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘viṣaṇṇaṃ vadanaṃ yasyāḥ’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (tvām)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• hi: indeed, for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle, emphasis/causal)
• Role: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)

• tvām: you
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• lakṣaye: I observe, I notice
• Type: Verb
• Root: lakṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• bhṛśa-duḥkhitām: deeply sorrowful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhṛśa (अव्यय) + duḥkhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (‘bhṛśaṃ duḥkhitā’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (tvām)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Avyayibhava

Sandhi Notes

• tv abravīt = tu + abravīt
• viṣaṇṇavadanāṃ = viṣaṇṇa + vadanām.

Context

Kaikeyi said to the hunchback, O Manthara! isn't all well with you? I can mark it from your dejected face how greatly distressed you feel, indeed!.

The teaching

Gentle speech and attentive observation are marks of cultured conduct, though discernment remains necessary.

Ethical theme

Sadācāra (right conduct)

How it resolves

Courteous inquiry / compassionate engagement

For your practice

Encourages sāttvic speech (madhura-vākya) and empathetic attention in daily interactions.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Concerned, gentle, inquiring

Themes

• Dharma (care for dependents)
• Ethics (compassionate inquiry)
• Court relationships
• Narrative

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Mantharā

FAQs

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

A dharmic reflex of care is shown: Kaikeyī checks on another’s well-being, reflecting responsibility and basic compassion in relationships.

What is the narrative situation?

Alarmed by Mantharā’s mood, Kaikeyī questions her, opening the door for Mantharā’s persuasive speech.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Attentiveness and concern for others—Kaikeyī notices distress and responds with inquiry rather than indifference.