Valmiki Ramayana 2.7.21: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 21

मन्थराप्रवेशः · Manthara Observes Ayodhya and Incites Kaikeyi

Spoken by Manthara to KaikeyiSetting: Ayodhyā (inner palace quarters)

Devanagari script

साऽस्म्यगाधे भये मग्ना दुःखशोकसमन्विता ।

दह्यमानाऽनलेनेव त्वद्धितार्थमिहागता ॥२१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.7.21

Transliteration

sā 'smy agādhe bhaye magnā duḥkhaśokasamanvitā |

dahyamānā 'nalen eva tvaddhitārtham ihāgatā ||21||

Translation

నేను అగాధమైన భయములో మునిగిపోయి, దుఃఖశోకాలతో నిండిపోయి, అగ్నిలో దగ్ధమైనట్లుగా మండుతూ—నీ హితార్థమే ఇక్కడికి వచ్చాను।

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• sā: I/she (she speaking: I)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• asmi: am
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• agādhe: unfathomable
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-gādha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (bhaye)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• bhaye: in fear
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)

• magnā: plunged, sunk
• Type: Verb
• Root: maj (धातु) + na (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (past participle/क्तवत्-भाव), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘submerged/plunged’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate adjective)

• duḥkha-śoka-samanvitā: accompanied by grief and sorrow
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + samanvita (प्रातिपदिक; √anv-i)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः: ‘duḥkhena śokena ca samanvitā’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (sā)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• dahyamānā: being burnt
• Type: Verb
• Root: dah (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (वर्तमान कर्मणि कृदन्त/शानच्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘being burnt’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate participle)

• analena: by fire
• Type: Noun
• Root: anala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• iva: as if, like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (upamā particle)
• Role: Upamāna-bodhaka (उपमानबोधक)

• tvad-hita-artham: for your welfare
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम) + hita (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-भाव: ‘tava hitasya artham’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजन (purpose)
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• iha: here
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place)
• Role: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)

• āgatā: have come
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√gam (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (past participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having come’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate)

Sandhi Notes

• sā 'smi = sā + asmi
• dahyamānā 'nalena iva = dahyamānā + analena + iva
• ihāgatā = iha + āgatā

Context

Plunged in unfathomable fear and stricken with grief and tears I am here seeking your well-being and yet consumed as though by fire.

The teaching

Emotional theatrics can masquerade as ‘concern’; discernment (viveka) is required before acting on another’s fear.

Duties in tension

• Speaking truth vs strategic exaggeration
• Loyal service to queen vs fomenting injustice toward rightful heir

Ethical theme

Nīti / counsel ethics

For your practice

Practice of witnessing emotions without being consumed—turning ‘burning’ into mindful observation; supports japa during agitation.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Bhayanaka (fear)

Mood

Panicked, lamenting, fevered

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Persuasion
• Emotional appeal
• Court intrigue

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

It shows how claims of 'welfare' can be used to justify agitation; dharmically, intention (bhāva) must align with truth (satya), not merely emotional display.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā intensifies her warning by presenting herself as distressed and acting 'for Kaikeyī’s good' to gain trust.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse performs the appearance of concern; it primarily illustrates rhetorical strategy rather than a genuine virtue.