Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.10: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 10

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

एवमुक्ता तया देव्या मन्थरा पापदर्शिनी।रामार्थमुपहिंसन्ती कुब्जा वचनमब्रवीत्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.9.10

Transliteration

evamuktā tayā devyā mantharā pāpadarśinī | rāmārtham upahiṃsantī kubjā vacanam abravīt ||

Translation

தேவி இவ்வாறு கூறியதும், பாவநோக்குடைய கூனியான மந்தரை, ராமனின் நலனுக்கு தீங்கு விளைவிக்க எண்ணி, இவ்வாறு பேசினாள்।

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Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक

• उक्ता: having been addressed
• उक्ता: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृसामानाधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘मन्थरा’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• तया: by her
• तया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• देव्या: by the queen
• देव्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• मन्थरा: Manthara
• मन्थरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्थरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पापदर्शिनी: evil-minded
• पापदर्शिनी: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृसामानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पापदर्शिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• रामार्थम्: Rama's interest
• रामार्थम्: Karma (कर्म; object of ‘उपहिंसन्ती’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उपहिंसन्ती: harming
• उपहिंसन्ती: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृसामानाधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-हिंस् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘मन्थरा’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• कुब्जा: the hunchback woman
• कुब्जा: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृसामानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुब्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘मन्थरा’ इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण (apposition)

• वचनम्: words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म; object of ‘अब्रवीत्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

Thus addressed by the queen (Kaikeyi), the evil-eyed hunchback, Manthara, said with the intention to damage Rama's interest.

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā
• Kaikeyī
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma rejects speech driven by malice; intentional harm to the righteous (here, Rāma’s welfare) is presented as adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā responds to Kaikeyī, positioning her counsel as a deliberate attempt to derail Rāma’s prospects.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse foregrounds the opposite of virtue—goodwill and truthfulness—by depicting calculated ill-intent and corrosive counsel.