Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 27

मन्थराप्रवेशः

Manthara Observes Ayodhya and Incites Kaikeyi

Devanagari script

शत्रुः पतिप्रवादेन मात्रेव हितकाम्यया।आशीविष इवाङ्केन बाले परिधृतस्त्वया।।।।

Transliteration

śatruḥ patipravādena mātreva hitakāmyayā | āśīviṣa ivāṅkena bāle paridhṛtas tvayā ||

Translation

孩子啊，你如母亲般愿他得益，却误认他为真正的夫君；你把仇敌抱在怀中，宛如怀抱一条毒蛇。

Word by Word

• शत्रुः: an enemy
• शत्रुः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/कर्ता) एकवचन

• पति: husband
• पति: सम्बन्ध (Relation within compound/समाससम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद; ‘husband’

• प्रवादेन: by the notion/assumption (of husbandhood)
• प्रवादेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr/करण) एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: पतेः प्रवादः/प्रवादः = belief/assumption about (him as) husband

• मात्रा: by a mother
• मात्रा: उपमान (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr) एकवचन

• इव: as if/like
• इव: उपमा (Comparison marker/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• हितकाम्यया: desiring (your) welfare
• हितकाम्यया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित + काम्य (प्रातिपदिके; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr) एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: हितस्य काम्या = desirous of welfare

• आशीविषः: a venomous serpent
• आशीविषः: उपमेय (Thing compared/उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशीविष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा (Comparison marker/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय

• अङ्केन: in the lap/with the embrace
• अङ्केन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr/करण) एकवचन; ‘lap/embrace’

• बाले: O girl/child
• बाले: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन) एकवचन

• परिधृतः: kept/cherished
• परिधृतः: क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय (Predicate participle)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-धृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘held/kept’

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: कर्ता (Agent in passive/कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instr/करण) एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Context

O innocent lady! with the intention of doing good like a mother to your husband who is your enemy, you are holding on your lap a venomous serpent.

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā
• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha
• Serpent (metaphor)

FAQs

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

It cautions that relationships must be grounded in truth and just conduct; dharma includes discerning whether trust is deserved.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā uses a striking metaphor to portray Daśaratha as a hidden threat, urging Kaikeyī to stop trusting him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence (apramāda) is emphasized—though weaponized here to erode marital trust.