Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.31: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 31

मन्थराप्रेरणा · वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि रामे प्रव्राजिते वनम् ।

रूढश्च कृतमूलश्च शेषं स्थास्यति ते सुतः ॥३१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.9.31

Transliteration

caturdaśa hi varṣāṇi rāme pravrājite vanam |

rūḍhaś ca kṛtamūlaś ca śeṣaṃ sthāsyati te sutaḥ ||31||

Translation

เพราะเมื่อพระรามถูกเนรเทศสู่พนานต์ครบสิบสี่ปี บุตรของท่านจักเติบใหญ่ แข็งแกร่ง และหยั่งรากมั่นคง; จากนั้นจักดำรงอยู่อย่างปลอดภัยตลอดกาลที่เหลือ

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Word by Word

• caturdaśa: fourteen
• caturdaśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturdaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvigu-samāsa (द्विगु-समास); used adjectivally with varṣāṇi; Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन) (agreement)

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphatic/causal sense

• varṣāṇi: years (for a period)
• varṣāṇi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); duration-accusative (कालाधिकरणार्थे द्वितीया)

• rāme: when Rama (was)
• rāme: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); locative absolute with pravrājite (सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध/सप्तमी-absolute)

• pravrājite: having been exiled
• pravrājite: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vraj (धातु) + -ta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग); in locative absolute with rāme

• vanam: to the forest
• vanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); goal of motion implied with pravrājita (गत्यर्थे कर्म)

• rūḍhaḥ: grown/firm
• rūḍhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ruh (धातु) + -ta (क्त)
• Form: Past participle used adjectivally (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण); Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with sutaḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• kṛtamūlaḥ: deep-rooted/firmly established
• kṛtamūlaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (√kṛ धातु + क्त) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya-samāsa (कर्मधारय): kṛtaṃ mūlaṃ yasya; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with sutaḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• śeṣam: the remainder (time)
• śeṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object/extent with sthāsyati (remaining time/part)

• sthāsyati: will remain/stand firm
• sthāsyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, periphrastic future), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम); Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; possessive

• sutaḥ: son
• sutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; subject

Context

After Rama has been exiled into the forest for fourteen years your son grown strong and deep-rooted will remain (king) for the rest of his life.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kaikeyī
• Bharata (implied as 'your son')
• forest (vana/araṇya)
• fourteen years

FAQs

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

It contrasts dharma with realpolitik: stability gained through another’s unjust suffering is portrayed as ‘rooting’ power, revealing the adharmic logic of consolidation.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā argues that a long exile will allow Bharata to become firmly established, making any later challenge ineffective.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

No virtue is celebrated; instead, it underscores strategic patience and consolidation—skills that can serve either dharma or adharma depending on intent.