Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.23: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 23

मन्थराप्रेरणा · वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

मास्मैनं प्रत्युदीक्षेथा मा चैनमभिभाषथाः ।

रुदन्ती चापि तं दृष्ट्वा जगत्यां शोकलालसा ॥२३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.9.23

Transliteration

mā smainaṃ pratyudīkṣethā mā cainam abhibhāṣathāḥ |

rudantī cāpi taṃ dṛṣṭvā jagatyāṃ śokalālasā ||23||

Translation

అతనివైపు తిరిగి చూడకుము, అతనితో మాటలాడకుము. అతనిని చూసినా కన్నీళ్లతోనే ఉండుము—నేలపై పడి, శోకానికే ఆసక్తిగా నిలుచుము।

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Word by Word

• मा: do not
• मा: Nishedha-nipāta (निषेध-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (prohibitive particle)

• स्म: indeed (emphasis)
• स्म: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; निषेध/आग्रह-समर्थक (emphatic particle with mā)

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• प्रत्युदीक्षेथाः: look at (you all)
• प्रत्युदीक्षेथाः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-उद्-√ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative) निषेधार्थे ‘मा’ सह; मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• मा: do not
• मा: Nishedha-nipāta (निषेध-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• च: and/also
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• अभिभाषथाः: speak to/address (you all)
• अभिभाषथाः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative) निषेधार्थे ‘मा’ सह; मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• रुदन्ती: weeping
• रुदन्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √रुद् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle, शतृ); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• अपि: also
• अपि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपि-कार (also/even)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• जगत्याम्: on the earth/in the world
• जगत्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (Locative singular)

• शोकलालसा: absorbed in grief
• शोकलालसा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक (प्रातिपदिक) + लालसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘eager/absorbed for grief’ i.e., intent on grief)

Context

Immersed in grief and in tears, neither look at him (Dasaratha) nor even talk to him when you see him.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha (implied as 'him')
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

It highlights unethical communication: refusing dialogue and using staged suffering to control outcomes contradicts satya (truthfulness) and righteous conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā instructs Kaikeyī to pressure Daśaratha through silence, tears, and refusal to engage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse underscores (negatively) the need for honest speech and transparent intent in relationships.