Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.43 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 43

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

जघनं तव निर्घुष्टं रशनादामशोभितम्।।।।जङ्घे भृशमुपन्यस्ते पादौ चाप्यायतावुभौ।

Transliteration

jaghanaṁ tava nirghuṣṭaṁ raśanā-dāma-śobhitam |

jaṅghe bhṛśam upanyaste pādau cāpy āyatāv ubhau ||

Translation

تیری کمر، کمر بند سے آراستہ، چلنے پر جھنکارتی ہے؛ تیری پنڈلیاں نہایت مضبوطی سے جمی ہوئی ہیں، اور تیرے دونوں پاؤں بھی دراز و کشادہ ہیں۔

Word by Word

• jaghanam: hips
• jaghanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaghana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• nirghuṣṭam: resounding/jingling
• nirghuṣṭam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-ghuṣ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle, Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifying 'jaghanam'

• raśanādāmaśobhitam: adorned with a girdle-belt
• raśanādāmaśobhitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raśanā + dāma + śobhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: raśanā-dāma (girdle-belt) + śobhita; Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifying 'jaghanam'

• jaṅghe: (your) shanks/calves
• jaṅghe: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaṅghā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana

• bhṛśam: exceedingly
• bhṛśam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhṛśam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of degree (परिमाणवाचक)

• upanyaste: are placed/set
• upanyaste: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-ni-as (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Dvivacana; ātmanepada

• pādau: feet
• pādau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta, inclusion/emphasis

• āyatau: long/extended
• āyatau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āyata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; qualifying 'pādau'

• ubhau: both
• ubhau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; apposition to 'pādau'

Context

Your hips, glitter with the jingling girdle. Strong are the calfs of your legs and long are your feet.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Mantharā

FAQs

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

It indirectly shows how attention can be diverted from truth and duty to sensual admiration; dharma requires guarding the mind from such derailments when critical decisions approach.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī continues her praise, strengthening Mantharā’s influence over her at the very moment a grave decision is forming.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is mindfulness and moral alertness—maintaining clarity rather than being carried by admiration and emotional bonding.