Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.48 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 48

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

जात्येन च सुवर्णेन सुनिष्टप्तेन मन्थरे।।।।लब्धार्था च प्रतीता च लेपयिष्यामि ते स्थगु।

Transliteration

jātyena ca suvarṇena suniṣṭaptena manthare |

labdhārthā ca pratītā ca lepayiṣyāmi te sthagu ||

Translation

Wahai Mantharā, apabila maksudku tercapai dan hatiku puas, akan kusapukan pada bonggolmu emas tulen terbaik, yang dimurnikan dan dipanaskan sempurna.

Word by Word

• jātyena: of fine/best kind (pure)
• jātyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jātya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka/Puṃliṅga usage; Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; qualifying 'suvarṇena' (instrumental)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• suvarṇena: with gold
• suvarṇena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suvarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• suniṣṭaptena: well-refined/fully heated
• suniṣṭaptena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-ni-ṣtap (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle, Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; qualifying 'suvarṇena'

• manthare: O Mantharā
• manthare: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• labdhārthā: having achieved the aim
• labdhārthā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: labdha-artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: labdha + artha; Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agreeing with implied subject 'aham' (speaker)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• pratītā: satisfied/pleased
• pratītā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prati-i (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle, Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agreeing with implied 'aham'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• lepayiṣyāmi: I will smear/anoint
• lepayiṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: lip (धातु) + ṇic (णिच्)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (लुट्/Future), Uttama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; causative (णिजन्त)

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• sthagu: hump
• sthagu: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthagu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

Context

O Manthara, I shall get a tilaka made of gold for your auspicious, lovely face and shall also order exquisite ornaments (for you).

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Mantharā
• Gold (Suvarṇa)

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates how greed and reward can motivate unethical action. Dharma emphasizes counsel given for righteousness, not for payment or personal gain.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī promises lavish, even extravagant, rewards to Mantharā to secure her continued support in the plot.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The absence of virtue is underscored—material inducement replaces moral discernment, showing how desire can eclipse satya and fairness.