Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.35 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 35

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

प्राप्तकालं नु मन्येऽहं राजानं वीतसाध्वसा।।।।रामाभिषेकसङ्कल्पान्निगृह्य विनिवर्तय।

Transliteration

prāptakālaṃ nu manye ’haṃ rājānaṃ vītasādhvasā | rāmābhiṣekasaṅkalpān nigṛhya vinivartaya ||

Translation

ข้าพเจ้าเห็นว่า บัดนี้เป็นกาลอันควรแล้ว; จงไร้ความหวาดหวั่น ยับยั้งพระราชา และหันพระองค์กลับจากพระดำริที่จะประกอบพิธีราชาภิเษกแด่พระรามเถิด

Word by Word

• prāptakālam: the right time (having arrived)
• prāptakālam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāpta (pra-√āp धातु + क्त) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: prāptaḥ kālaḥ (the time has come); Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object of manye (as opinion-content)

• nu: indeed/now
• nu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), interrogative/emphatic nuance

• manye: I think/consider
• manye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Ātmanepada, 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative, Singular; subject of manye

• rājānam: the king
• rājānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; object of vinivartaya/nigṛhya

• vītasādhvasā: fearlessly/with fear gone
• vītasādhvasā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (करण/भाव-तृतीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīta (vi-√i/√yā धातु + क्त, 'gone') + sādhvasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष): vītaṃ sādhvasaṃ yayā (fear has departed); Feminine, Instrumental, Singular; qualifies implied 'tvayā' (by you, fearless) or as instrumental of manner

• rāmābhiṣekasaṅkalpāt: from the plan of Rama's consecration
• rāmābhiṣekasaṅkalpāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + abhiṣeka (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain: rāmasya abhiṣekaḥ; abhiṣekasya saṅkalpaḥ; Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; source/point of withdrawal

• nigṛhya: having restrained/forcibly checked
• nigṛhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√grah (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त, ल्यप्): nigṛhya; expresses prior action

• vinivartaya: turn (him) back/dissuade
• vinivartaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ni-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (imperative), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular; causative sense 'make (him) turn back' is contextual though form is simple imperative

Context

I think the proper time has come (to ask for the boons). Without fear refrain the king forcibly from his intention of installing Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha (the king)
• Rāma

FAQs

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

It dramatizes the ethical danger of coercion in governance and family life; dharma favors counsel and justice, not forceful obstruction of rightful duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā urges immediate action: Kaikeyī must intervene at once to halt preparations for Rāma’s coronation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearlessness is urged, but as a tool for wrongdoing; the epic later contrasts this with Rāma’s fearless commitment to dharma and satya.