Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 78, Shloka 5

अष्टसप्ततितमः सर्गः — Śatrughna’s Fury and Bharata’s Restraint

Mantharā Episode

Devanagari script

इति सम्भाषमाणे तु शत्रुघ्ने लक्ष्मणानुजे।प्राग्द्वारेऽभूत्तदा कुब्जा सर्वाभरणभूषिता।।।।

Transliteration

iti sambhāṣamāṇe tu śatrughne lakṣmaṇānujе |

prāgdvāre 'bhūt tadā kubjā sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā ||

Translation

ଏପରି କଥାବାର୍ତ୍ତା କରୁଥିବା ଲକ୍ଷ୍ମଣଙ୍କ ଅନୁଜ ଶତ୍ରୁଘ୍ନଙ୍କ ସମୟରେ, ପୂର୍ବଦ୍ୱାରେ ସର୍ବ ଆଭରଣରେ ଭୂଷିତ କୁବ୍ଜା ମନ୍ଥରା ପ୍ରକଟ ହେଲା।

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: निपात (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative/‘thus’)

• सम्भाषमाणे: while (he) was conversing
• सम्भाषमाणे: सति-सप्तमी (Locative absolute/सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+√भाष् (धातु)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present middle participle), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: निपात (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• शत्रुघ्ने: in/when Shatrughna
• शत्रुघ्ने: सति-सप्तमी (Locative absolute locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रुघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• लक्ष्मणानुजे: (being) Lakshmana's younger brother
• लक्ष्मणानुजे: सति-सप्तमी (Locative absolute locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (लक्ष्मणस्य अनुजः)

• प्राक्-द्वारे: at the eastern gate
• प्राक्-द्वारे: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राक् (अव्यय) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (प्राक् इति अव्ययपूर्वपद) = ‘at the eastern door’

• अभूत्: appeared/was present
• अभूत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तदा: then
• तदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (then)

• कुब्जा: the hunchback (Manthara)
• कुब्जा: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुब्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वाभरणभूषिता: adorned with all ornaments
• सर्वाभरणभूषिता: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त; √भूष्, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वैः आभरणैः भूषिता)

Context

While Satrughna, brother of Lakshmana was conversing thus, the hunchback Manthara decorated with all kinds of ornaments arrived at the entrance.

Characters & Entities

• Śatrughna
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Mantharā (kubjā)

FAQs

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

The verse sets up moral accountability: outward adornment can mask inner intent, reminding the listener to judge actions by dharma (conduct and consequences), not appearance.

What is the narrative situation?

While Śatrughna is engaged in conversation, Mantharā arrives at the palace entrance, initiating the next confrontation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment (viveka): the need to see beyond external display to the ethical weight of a person’s deeds.