Valmiki Ramayana 2.8.23 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 23

मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī

Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm

Devanagari script

न हि राज्ञस्सुता स्सर्वे राज्ये तिष्ठन्ति भामिनि।स्थाप्यमानेषु सर्वेषु सुमहाननयो भवेत्।।2.8.23।।

Transliteration

na hi rājñaḥ sutāḥ sarve rājye tiṣṭhanti bhāmini | sthāpyamāneṣu sarveṣu sumahān anayo bhavet || 2.8.23 ||

Translation

ليس كلُّ أبناءِ الملك يستطيعون اعتلاءَ العرش، أيتها السيدةُ المتقدة؛ فلو نُصِّبوا جميعًا حكّامًا لوقع اضطرابٌ عظيم.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये अव्यय (indeed/for)

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• सुताः: sons
• सुताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying सुताः)

• राज्ये: in the kingdom
• राज्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• तिष्ठन्ति: remain/hold (power)
• तिष्ठन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; अर्थः—स्थितिं/अधिकारं लभन्ते (stand/hold rule)

• भामिनि: O passionate/lovely lady
• भामिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• स्थाप्यमानेषु: when (they) are being installed
• स्थाप्यमानेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्यय कर्मणि वर्तमानकृदन्त (passive present participle), पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; अर्थः—स्थाप्यन्ते येषु (when being installed)

• सर्वेषु: in all (cases)
• सर्वेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; सर्वेषु (in all/among all)

• सुमहान्: very great
• सुमहान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + महान् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अतिशयेन महान्)

• अनयः: misrule/disorder
• अनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भवेत्: would arise/would happen
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

O lovely lady, not all the sons of the king will inherit the kingdom. If all of them are installed as kings, there will be great disorder.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Dharma in governance emphasizes orderly succession and avoidance of factional conflict; however, the verse is used rhetorically to justify exclusion rather than fairness.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā argues that only one son can be king, framing succession as a zero-sum contest to heighten Kaikeyī’s urgency.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The political virtue invoked is stability (rājadharma of order), though Mantharā leverages it toward divisive ends.