Valmiki Ramayana 2.8.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 4
मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः · Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī
Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm
शोचामि दुर्मतित्वं ते का हि प्राज्ञा प्रहर्षयेत् ।
अरेस्सपत्नीपुत्रस्य वृद्धिं मृत्योरिवागताम् ॥४॥
śocāmi durmatitvaṃ te kā hi prājñā praharṣayet |
areḥ sapatnīputrasya vṛddhiṃ mṛtyor ivāgatām ||4||
মই তোমাৰ দুৰ্মতি দেখি শোক কৰোঁ। সপত্নীৰ পুত্ৰ—শত্ৰুসম—তাৰ বৃদ্ধি যদি মৃত্যুৰ আগমনৰ দৰে হয়, তেন্তে কোন প্ৰাজ্ঞা নাৰী তাত হৰ্ষিত হ’ব?
I pity your false notion. Will any wise woman rejoice at the prosperity of the son of a co-wife who is like an enemy? This is like (courting) death.
FAQs
The verse frames jealousy toward a co-wife’s child as self-destructive, implying a dharmic warning: envy and factionalism in family life corrode right judgment and invite ruin.
Mantharā begins persuading Kaikeyī that Rāma’s impending rise threatens her interests, urging suspicion toward Kausalyā’s son.
Negatively, it highlights the need for viveka (discernment). A ‘wise’ person should not celebrate or fuel hostility within the royal household.
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