Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 10

मन्थराप्रवेशः

Manthara Observes Ayodhya and Incites Kaikeyi

Devanagari script

विदीर्यमाणा हर्षेण धात्री तु परया मुदा।आचचक्षेऽथ कुब्जायै भूयसीं राघव श्रियम्।।।।

Transliteration

vidīryamāṇā harṣeṇa dhātrī tu parayā mudā |

ācacakṣe 'tha kubjāyai bhūyasīṃ rāghava-śriyam ||

Translation

乳母喜悦得几乎要迸裂，满怀大乐，便向那驼背女子述说：罗摩——罗睺族的后裔——将得无量的吉祥与荣福。

Word by Word

• विदीर्यमाणा: bursting
• विदीर्यमाणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√दॄ/√दीर् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त (present participle, आत्मनेपदभाव) स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; 'bursting/being torn (with emotion)'

• हर्षेण: with joy
• हर्षेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (करण) एकवचनम्

• धात्री: the nurse/maid
• धात्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धात्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (कर्ता) एकवचनम्

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (particle): contrast/emphasis

• परया: with great
• परया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया (करण) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् मुदा प्रति

• मुदा: with delight
• मुदा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया (करण) एकवचनम्

• आचचक्षे: told/related
• आचचक्षे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• अथ: then
• अथ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (adverb/conjunction): 'then/thereupon'

• कुब्जायै: to the hunchback (Manthara)
• कुब्जायै: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुब्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान) एकवचनम्

• भूयसीम्: greater
• भूयसीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचनम्; तुलनात्मक (comparative): 'greater'

• राघव-श्रियम्: Rama's prosperity
• राघव-श्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक) + श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'Raghava's fortune'

Context

Bursting with great joy, the royal maid related to the hunchback the great fortuneawaiting the son of the Raghus (Rama).

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā (kubjā)
• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Raghu dynasty

FAQs

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

Ethically, the verse highlights how information about rightful succession and fortune circulates within the palace—implying the dharmic need for responsible speech, since words can trigger major moral and political consequences.

What is the narrative situation?

A palace attendant joyfully informs Mantharā about Rāma’s impending prosperity—news that will soon be weaponized in court intrigue.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Open-hearted joy and sincerity in the messenger (dhātrī), though the broader episode warns that even truthful news can be misused by others.