Valmiki Ramayana 2.7.1: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 1

मन्थराप्रवेशः · Manthara Observes Ayodhya and Incites Kaikeyi

Devanagari script

ज्ञातिदासी यतो जाता कैकेय्यास्तु सहोषिता ।

प्रासादं चन्द्रसङ्काशमारुरोह यदृच्छया ॥१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.7.1

Transliteration

jñāti-dāsī yato jātā kaikeyyās tu sahōṣitā |

prāsādaṃ candra-saṅkāśam ārurōha yadṛcchayā ||1||

Translation

మంథర, కైకేయి కులదాసిగా ఆమె జన్మనుండి సహవాసముచేసినది; యదృచ్ఛయా చంద్రసమప్రభమైన ప్రాసాదమును ఎక్కెను.

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Word by Word

• ज्ञातिदासी: a family maidservant
• ज्ञातिदासी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति-दासी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ज्ञातीनां दासी ‘family-servant’

• यतः: since, from when
• यतः: Hetu/Kāla (हेतु/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (causal/temporal): ‘since/from the time when’

• जाता: born
• जाता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘born’ (predicate of ज्ञातिदासी)

• कैकेय्याः: of Kaikeyī
• कैकेय्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘of Kaikeyī’

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahārtha (सहार्थक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (preposition-like): ‘together with’ (योगे)

• ऊषिता: having lived
• ऊषिता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वस्/उष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having lived/dwelt’ (with Kaikeyī)

• प्रासादम्: palace
• प्रासादम्: Karma (कर्म) / Gati-karman
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रासाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चन्द्रसङ्काशम्: moon-like, resembling the moon
• चन्द्रसङ्काशम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र-सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: चन्द्र इव सङ्काशः ‘moon-like’ (qualifies प्रासादम्)

• आरुरोह: ascended
• आरुरोह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रुह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘ascended/climbed’

• यदृच्छया: by chance
• यदृच्छया: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदृच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचन रूपेण अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; ‘by chance/accidentally’ (adverbial instrumental)

Context

The family maid (Manthara) of Kaikeyi who had been living with her since her (Kaikeyi's) birth casually ascended the palace gleaming white like the Moon.

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā (the family maid)
• Kaikeyī
• palace (prāsāda)

FAQs

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

The verse sets narrative conditions rather than a direct injunction; ethically, it foreshadows how proximity and influence within a household can shape decisions—highlighting the need for discernment in counsel.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration introduces Mantharā’s movement within the palace as events begin to turn toward Kaikeyī’s crucial choices.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

No explicit virtue is praised; the focus is on narrative setup, preparing for the ethical contrast between righteous rule and manipulative influence.