Valmiki Ramayana 2.7.31 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 31

मन्थराप्रवेशः

Manthara Observes Ayodhya and Incites Kaikeyi

Devanagari script

मन्थाराया वचश्श्रुत्वा शयाना सा शुभानना।उत्तस्थौ हर्षसम्पूर्णा चन्द्रलेखेव शारदी।।।।

Transliteration

manthārāyā vacaś śrutvā śayānā sā śubhānanā |

uttasthau harṣasampūrṇā candralekheva śāradī || 2.7.31 ||

Translation

Mendengar kata-kata Mantharā, Kaikeyī yang sedang berbaring dengan wajah yang elok pun bangkit, penuh kegembiraan, bagaikan sabit bulan cerah pada musim luruh.

Word by Word

• मन्थारायाः: of Manthara
• मन्थारायाः: सम्बन्ध (Possessor/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्थरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Gen/सम्बन्ध) एकवचन

• वचः: words
• वचः: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/कर्म) एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); ‘having heard’

• शयाना: lying (reclining)
• शयाना: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘सा’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शी (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present middle participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘lying’

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• शुभानना: fair-faced
• शुभानना: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘सा’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ + आनन (प्रातिपदिके; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: शुभं आननं यस्याः = having an auspicious face

• उत्तस्थौ: rose up
• उत्तस्थौ: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हर्षसम्पूर्णा: full of joy
• हर्षसम्पूर्णा: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘सा’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हर्ष + सम्पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिके; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषभावः: हर्षेण सम्पूर्णा = filled with joy

• चन्द्रलेखा: moon-crescent
• चन्द्रलेखा: उपमान (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र + लेखा (प्रातिपदिके; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: चन्द्रस्य लेखा = crescent of the moon

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा (Comparison marker/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय

• शारदी: autumnal
• शारदी: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘चन्द्रलेखा’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘autumnal’ (agreeing with चन्द्रलेखा)

Context

Hearing the words of Manthara, Kaikeyi of charming countenance lying in her couch rose, full of joy, like the autumnal streak of the Moon's crescent.

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā
• Kaikeyī
• moon (metaphor)

FAQs

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

Dharma is tested at the level of inner response: joy at politically charged counsel can signal attachment and delusion, which later conflicts with truth and fairness.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī physically and emotionally shifts from repose to eager engagement after hearing Mantharā, indicating readiness to be influenced.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Aesthetic charm is highlighted, but ethically the emphasis is on susceptibility—how quickly emotion can override steadiness of judgment.