Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.26: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 26

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

न ह्यतिक्रमितुं शक्तस्तव वाक्यं महीपतिः।मन्दस्वभावे बुध्यस्व सौभाग्यबलमात्मनः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.9.26

Transliteration

na hy atikramituṃ śaktas tava vākyaṃ mahīpatiḥ |

mandasvabhāve budhyasva saubhāgyabalam ātmanaḥ ||

Translation

พระราชาผู้ครองแผ่นดินย่อมไม่อาจล่วงละเมิดถ้อยคำของท่านได้เลย โอหญิงผู้มีจิตใจต่ำต้อย จงตระหนักถึงพลังแห่งสิริมงคลและเสน่ห์ของตนเองเถิด

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Word by Word

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

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (indeed)

• अतिक्रमितुम्: to transgress
• अतिक्रमितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-√क्रम् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive)

• शक्तः: able
• शक्तः: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (प्रधान-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• तव: your
• तव: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: word/command
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• महीपतिः: the king
• महीपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘lord of the earth’)

• मन्दस्वभावे: O mean-natured one
• मन्दस्वभावे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन (Vocative); कर्मधारयः (‘of dull/mean nature’)

• बुध्यस्व: understand/realize
• बुध्यस्व: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सौभाग्यबलम्: the power of your fortune/beauty
• सौभाग्यबलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभाग्य (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘power of good fortune/beauty’)

• आत्मनः: of yourself
• आत्मनः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (Genitive singular)

Context

The king is afraid of inciting your ire. When you are angry, he dare not look at your indignant countenance. Indeed he will forsake even his life for your pleasure.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha (as mahīpati)

FAQs

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

It shows how power over another can tempt adharma; dharma demands that influence be exercised for justice and truth, not for selfish ends.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā asserts that Daśaratha cannot disobey Kaikeyī and urges her to recognize her leverage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The king’s adherence to a beloved’s word is implied; the lesson shifts to the virtue Kaikeyī should have shown—responsible use of influence aligned with satya and dharma.