Valmiki Ramayana 2.78.17: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 78, Shloka 17

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

Mantharā Episode

Devanagari script

तस्या ह्याकृष्यमाणाया मन्थराया स्ततस्ततः।चित्रं बहुविधं भाण्डं पृथिव्यां तद्व्यशीर्यत।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.78.17

Transliteration

tasyā hy ākṛṣyamāṇāyā mantharāyāḥ tataḥ tataḥ | citraṃ bahuvidhaṃ bhāṇḍaṃ pṛthivyāṃ tad vyaśīryata ||

Translation

లాగబడుతున్న మంథరా యొక్క రంగురంగుల, నానావిధమైన ఆభరణాలు ఇక్కడక్కడ నేలపై చెల్లాచెదురై విరిగిపడ్డాయి.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/causal nuance)

• आकृष्यमाणायाः: while being dragged
• आकृष्यमाणायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कर्तरि/कर्मणि कृदन्त (शानच्; passive sense), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying mantharāyāḥ)

• मन्थरायाः: of Mantharā
• मन्थरायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्थरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• ततः: from there
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (ablatival adverb)

• ततः: from there (in various places)
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्ति (repetition) = 'here and there'

• चित्रम्: variegated, colorful
• चित्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying bhāṇḍam)

• बहुविधम्: of many kinds
• बहुविधम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (बहवः विधाः यस्य)

• भाण्डम्: articles/ornaments, belongings
• भाण्डम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• पृथिव्याम्: on the earth/ground
• पृथिव्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (refers to bhāṇḍam)

• व्यशीर्यत: was scattered, fell apart
• व्यशीर्यत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शॄ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्गः वि-; कर्मणि-भावः (intransitive/passive sense)

Context

While Manthara was being dragged by Satrughna, the collection of ornaments of many colours and of various kinds worn by her were broken and scattered here and there all over the ground.

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā
• pṛthivī (ground/earth)

FAQs

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

A symbolic reminder: external splendor (ornaments, status) is fragile; dharma and inner discipline are the stable supports when turmoil erupts.

What is the narrative situation?

During the dragging, Mantharā’s ornaments fall and scatter across the ground, visually marking the chaos in the palace.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse emphasizes no direct virtue; it underscores the narrative consequence of violent anger—disorder and loss.