Valmiki Ramayana 2.7.12 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 12

मन्थराप्रवेशः

Manthara Observes Ayodhya and Incites Kaikeyi

Devanagari script

धात्र्यास्तु वचनं शृत्वा कुब्जा क्षिप्रममर्षिता।कैलासशिखराकारा त्प्रासादादवरोहत।।।।

Transliteration

dhātryās tu vacanaṃ śrutvā kubjā kṣipram amarṣitā | kailāsaśikharākārāt prāsādād avarohata ||

Translation

ครั้นได้ฟังถ้อยคำของนางพี่เลี้ยง นางค่อมก็เดือดดาลฉับพลัน แล้วรีบลงจากปราสาทซึ่งสูงดุจยอดเขาไกรลาส

Word by Word

• धात्र्याः: of the nurse/maid
• धात्र्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धात्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध) एकवचनम्

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (particle): contrast/emphasis

• वचनम्: words/speech
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचनम्

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्तम् (gerund): 'having heard'

• कुब्जा: the hunchback (Manthara)
• कुब्जा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुब्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (कर्ता) एकवचनम्

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• क्षिप्रम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययम् (adverb): 'quickly'

• अमर्षिता: angered
• अमर्षिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमर्षित (कृदन्त, √मृष् with neg/privative a-)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle) स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; 'angered/indignant'

• कैलास-शिखर-आकारात्: from (a palace) resembling Kailasa's peak
• कैलास-शिखर-आकारात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कैलास (प्रातिपदिक) + शिखर (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे पञ्चमी (अपादान) एकवचनम्; विशेषणवत् प्रासादात् प्रति; समासार्थः: कैलासस्य शिखरस्य आकारः यस्य (तस्मात्)

• प्रासादात्: from the palace
• प्रासादात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रासाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे पञ्चमी (अपादान) एकवचनम्

• अवरोहत: descended
• अवरोहत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√रुह् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

Context

The malevolent Manthara on fire with fury reached Kaikeyi lying upon her couch and said:

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā (kubjā)
• palace (prāsāda)

FAQs

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

The verse foreshadows how uncontrolled resentment disrupts dharma: indignation becomes the motive force that soon undermines rightful succession and family harmony.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā, angered by the news of Rāma’s installation, hastens down from the palace to act.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

A negative trait is highlighted—Mantharā’s impulsive anger—serving as a moral contrast to Rāma’s jitakrodha.