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Shloka 31

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि रामे प्रव्राजिते वनम्।रूढश्च कृतमूलश्च शेषं स्थास्यति ते सुतः।।।।

caturdaśa hi varṣāṇi rāme pravrājite vanam | rūḍhaś ca kṛtamūlaś ca śeṣaṃ sthāsyati te sutaḥ ||

کیونکہ جب رام چودہ برس کے لیے بن میں جلاوطن ہو جائے گا تو تیرا بیٹا مضبوط ہو کر جڑ پکڑ لے گا؛ پھر باقی عمر وہ بےخوف و محفوظ قائم رہے گا۔

caturdaśafourteen
caturdaśa:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootcaturdaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormDvigu-samāsa (द्विगु-समास); used adjectivally with varṣāṇi; Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन) (agreement)
hiindeed/for
hi:
Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi (अव्यय)
FormParticle (निपात), emphatic/causal sense
varṣāṇiyears (for a period)
varṣāṇi:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootvarṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); duration-accusative (कालाधिकरणार्थे द्वितीया)
rāmewhen Rama (was)
rāme:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootrāma (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); locative absolute with pravrājite (सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध/सप्तमी-absolute)
pravrājitehaving been exiled
pravrājite:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootpra-√vraj (धातु) + -ta (क्त)
FormPast passive participle (कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग); in locative absolute with rāme
vanamto the forest
vanam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvana (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); goal of motion implied with pravrājita (गत्यर्थे कर्म)
rūḍhaḥgrown/firm
rūḍhaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Root√ruh (धातु) + -ta (क्त)
FormPast participle used adjectivally (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण); Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with sutaḥ
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)
kṛtamūlaḥdeep-rooted/firmly established
kṛtamūlaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootkṛta (√kṛ धातु + क्त) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
FormKarmadhāraya-samāsa (कर्मधारय): kṛtaṃ mūlaṃ yasya; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with sutaḥ
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)
śeṣamthe remainder (time)
śeṣam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object/extent with sthāsyati (remaining time/part)
sthāsyatiwill remain/stand firm
sthāsyati:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√sthā (धातु)
FormLuṭ (लुट्, periphrastic future), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
teyour
te:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Roottvad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun (सर्वनाम); Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; possessive
sutaḥson
sutaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootsuta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; subject

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.

R
Rāma
K
Kaikeyī
B
Bharata (implied as 'your son')
F
forest (vana/araṇya)
F
fourteen years

FAQs

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

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

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