Valmiki Ramayana 2.9.52: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 52

मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च

Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons

Devanagari script

तवापि कुब्जाः कुब्जायास्सर्वाभरणभूषिताः।पादौ परिचरिष्यन्ति यथैव त्वं सदा मम।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.9.52

Transliteration

tavāpi kubjāḥ kubjāyāḥ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitāḥ |

pādau paricariṣyanti yathaiva tvaṃ sadā mama ||

Translation

Ngay cả những kẻ gù khác, được trang sức đủ mọi châu báu, cũng sẽ hầu hạ dưới chân ngươi—như chính ngươi xưa nay vẫn hầu hạ dưới chân ta.

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Word by Word

• तव: of you; your
• तव: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (also/even)

• कुब्जाः: hunchback women
• कुब्जाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुब्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कुब्जायाः: of the hunchback (woman)
• कुब्जायाः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुब्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्व-आभरण-भूषिताः: adorned with all ornaments
• सर्व-आभरण-भूषिताः: विशेषण (Qualifier) (कर्तुः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त; √भूष् क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural) — कुब्जाः इति विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सर्वैः आभरणैः भूषिताः)

• पादौ: (your) two feet
• पादौ: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• परिचरिष्यन्ति: will serve/attend
• परिचरिष्यन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + √चर् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• यथा एव: just as
• यथा एव: उपमान/प्रकार (Manner marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय-समूह (indeclinable phrase): यथा (as) + एव (indeed/just)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject) (उपमान-वाक्ये)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सदा: always
• सदा: कालाधिकरण (Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• मम: of me; my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

You shall move about wearing lovely garments like a goddess. With a peerless countenance, as if challenging the Moon and feeling proud, you will attain a state of eminence amidst your enemies.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Mantharā

FAQs

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

The verse shows how power can distort values: service becomes a currency for domination rather than care. Dharma teaches humility and responsibility, not prideful reversal.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī promises Mantharā a future of elevated status where others will serve her as she has served Kaikeyī.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The desired trait is not virtue but superiority; it contrasts with the epic’s ideal of dignified service grounded in devotion and righteousness.