Shloka 15

मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī

Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm

Devanagari script

भ्रातृ़न्भृत्यांश्च दीर्घायुः पितृवत्पालयिष्यति।सन्तप्स्यसे कथं कुब्जे श्रुत्वा रामाभिषेचनम्।।2.8.15।।

Transliteration

bhrātṝn bhṛtyāṃś ca dīrghāyuḥ pitṛvat pālayiṣyati | santapsyase kathaṃ kubje śrutvā rāmābhiṣecanam || 2.8.15 ||

Translation

هو طويلُ العمر، سيحمي إخوته وخدمه كما يحمي الأب. أيتها الحدباء، لِمَ تحزنين حين تسمعين بتتويج راما؟

Word by Word

• भ्रातॄन्: brothers
• भ्रातॄन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भृत्यान्: servants
• भृत्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• दीर्घायुः: long-lived
• दीर्घायुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (दीर्घम् आयुः यस्य) ‘long-lived’

• पितृवत्: like a father
• पितृवत्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पितृवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (adverbial ‘like a father’)

• पालयिष्यति: will protect/govern
• पालयिष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Future), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सन्तप्स्यसे: will you grieve
• सन्तप्स्यसे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√तप् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Future), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• कथम्: how/why
• कथम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• कुब्जे: O hunchback (Manthara)
• कुब्जे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुब्जा/कुब्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (vocative), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• रामाभिषेचनम्: Rama's coronation
• रामाभिषेचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + अभिषेचन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रामस्य अभिषेचनम्)

Context

Blessed with a long life, Rama will protect his brothers and the servants like afather. O hunchback, hearing Rama's coronation why are you aggrieved?

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyi
• Manthara
• Rama
• brothers (Rama’s brothers, implied)

FAQs

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

A ruler’s dharma is protective care: Kaikeyi describes ideal kingship as fatherly guardianship of family and dependents, grounded in truth and benevolence.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyi challenges Mantharā’s distress, arguing that Rama’s coronation should be good news because of his just nature.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s compassion and responsibility—governance as protection (pālana) rather than domination.