Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.19 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 19

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

अनभिज्ञाम्ह्यहं देवि त्वयैव कथिता पुरा।।2.9.18।।कथैषा तव तु स्नेहान्मनसा धार्यते मया।रामाभिषेकसम्भारान्निगृह्य विनिवर्तय।।2.9.19।।

Transliteration

anabhijñā hy ahaṃ devi tvayaiva kathitā purā ||

kathaiṣā tava tu snehān manasā dhāryate mayā |

rāmābhiṣeka-sambhārān nigṛhya vinivartaya ||

Translation

“Wahai Dewi, sesungguhnya aku tidak mengetahuinya; engkaulah yang dahulu telah menceritakannya kepadaku. Namun kerana kasihku kepadamu, perkara ini kusimpan dalam hati. Kini, tahanlah dengan tegas dan hentikan segala persiapan untuk upacara penobatan Rāma.”

Word by Word

• कथा: story
• कथा: कर्ता (agent/subject) — धार्यते इत्यस्य
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (nominative, 1st case), एकवचन (singular)

• एषा: this
• एषा: कर्ता-सम्बन्धी विशेषणम् (qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (nominative), एकवचन (singular); विशेषणम् (demonstrative adjective) — कथायाः

• तव: your
• तव: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation) — स्नेहस्य
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive, 6th case), एकवचन (singular)

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक निपात (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); विरोध/विशेषार्थक (contrast/emphasis marker)

• स्नेहात्: from affection / out of affection
• स्नेहात्: हेतु/अपादान (cause/source) — धार्यते इत्यस्य
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (ablative, 5th case), एकवचन (singular)

• मनसा: by the mind / in the mind
• मनसा: करण (instrument) — धार्यते इत्यस्य
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental, 3rd case), एकवचन (singular)

• धार्यते: is retained / is held
• धार्यते: क्रिया (verbal action) — ‘is held/retained’
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु) — धारणे
• Form: लट्-लकार (present tense), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); आत्मनेपद (ātmanepada); कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive voice)

• मया: by me
• मया: कर्ता (agent) — कर्मणि-क्रियायाः (passive agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental, 3rd case), एकवचन (singular)

• रामाभिषेकसम्भारान्: preparations for Rama’s consecration
• रामाभिषेकसम्भारान्: कर्म (object) — विनिवर्तय इत्यस्य
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + अभिषेक + सम्भार (प्रातिपदिकानि) — समासः
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (accusative, 2nd case), बहुवचन (plural); समास-विग्रहः: रामस्य अभिषेकस्य सम्भाराः (preparations for Rama's consecration)

• निगृह्य: having restrained / having checked
• निगृह्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (prior action) — विनिवर्तय इत्यस्य
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + ग्रह् (धातु) — ग्रहणे/निग्रहे; ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), उपसर्गयुक्त (with prefix ‘नि’); क्रियाविशेषणभाव (adverbial to main verb)

• विनिवर्तय: prevent / cause to stop / turn back
• विनिवर्तय: क्रिया (injunction) — आज्ञार्थक (imperative act)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + नि + वृत् (धातु) — निवृत्तौ; णिच् (causative) → विनिवर्तयति
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपद (parasmaipada); णिजन्त (causative)

Context

O queen I did not know this indeed. Only you had related it to me earlier. Because of my affection towards you, I have retained it in my memory. (Now) prevent preparations for Rama's consecration by force.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Rāma
• abhiṣeka (consecration)

FAQs

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

It warns how ‘affection’ can be misused as justification for unethical action; true dharma requires restraint, truthfulness, and non-harm, not coercion for political ends.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā reminds Kaikeyī of an earlier conversation and urges her to obstruct Rāma’s coronation preparations by force.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse primarily showcases the absence of virtue—strategic persuasion and coercive intent—serving as a negative ethical example.