Valmiki Ramayana 2.7.25: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 25

मन्थराप्रवेशः · Manthara Observes Ayodhya and Incites Kaikeyi

Spoken by Manthara to KaikeyiSetting: Ayodhyā (inner palace/queen’s apartments)

Devanagari script

उपस्थितः प्रयुञ्जानस्त्वयि सान्त्वमनर्थकम् ।

अर्थेनैवाद्य ते भर्ता कौसल्यां योजयिष्यति ॥२५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.7.25

Transliteration

upasthitaḥ prayuñjānas tvayi sāntvam anarthakam |

arthenaivādya te bhartā kausalyāṃ yojayiṣyati ||25||

Translation

Choć przychodzi do ciebie i oferuje jedynie próżne słowa pocieszenia, dziś twój mąż przyzna prawdziwą korzyść tylko Kausalyi.

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Word by Word

• upasthitaḥ: having approached, present
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√sthā (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (past participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having approached/being present’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier of bhartā)

• prayuñjānaḥ: employing, using
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√yuj (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘employing/applying’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier of bhartā)

• tvayi: towards you, in your case
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, सप्तमी, एकवचन
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)

• sāntvam: conciliation, appeasing words
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāntva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• anarthakam: meaningless, futile
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anarthaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (sāntvam)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• arthena: by advantage, with benefit
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• eva: indeed, only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphasis)
• Role: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)

• adya: today, now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time)
• Role: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)

• te: your
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• bhartā: husband
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• kausalyām: Kausalyā
• Type: Noun
• Root: kausalyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म) (object of yojayiṣyati)

• yojayiṣyati: will assign/attach, will favor (with advantage)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yuj (धातु)
• Form: णिच् (causative) + लृट् (future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• prayuñjānas tvayi = prayuñjānaḥ + tvayi (visarga sandhi)
• arthenaivādya = arthena + eva + adya

Context

When your husband approaches you he swears in meaningless, appeasing words. But today he is going to bestow benefit on Kausalya only.

The teaching

Consolation without truth becomes a tool of manipulation; political ‘benefit’ pursued through anṛta corrodes household dharma.

Duties in tension

• King’s duty to truthful, impartial conduct vs personal attachment/placation
• Co-wife harmony vs competition for succession advantage

Ethical theme

Satya/anṛta; rājadharma; gṛhadharma

For your practice

Practice of satya-vāk and discernment (viveka) against flattering speech; watchfulness over jealousy and comparison.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Raudra (fury)

Mood

Bitter, suspicious, foreboding

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Household politics
• Favoritism
• Speech vs action

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā
• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha
• Kausalyā

FAQs

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

It contrasts empty speech with meaningful action; dharma values truthful intent and fair conduct over mere soothing words.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā claims Kaikeyī is being placated while Kausalyā receives the true benefit through Rāma’s elevation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Justice/fairness is the implied standard—used here as a grievance to provoke Kaikeyī.