Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 20
मन्थराप्रवेशः
Manthara Observes Ayodhya and Incites Kaikeyi
अक्षय्यं सुमहद्देवि प्रवृत्तं त्वद्विनाशनम्।रामं दशरथो राजा यौवराज्येऽभिषेक्ष्यति।।।।
akṣayyaṃ sumahad devi pravṛttaṃ tvadvināśanam | rāmaṃ daśaratho rājā yauvarājye 'bhiṣekṣyati ||
হে দেবী! তোমার সর্বনাশের এক মহৎ ও অক্ষয় কারণ ইতিমধ্যেই প্রবৃত্ত হয়েছে—রাজা দশরথ শ্রীरामকে যুবরাজ্য-পদে অভিষেক করতে উদ্যত।
O queen!, your end is approaching, and it has no end and it is overwhelming. King Dasaratha is crowning Rama as heir-apparent.
FAQs
It highlights the tension between rājadharma (a king’s duty to establish rightful succession) and personal desire; the verse itself is framed as alarm, but the dharmic backdrop is the legitimacy of Rāma’s consecration.
Mantharā informs Kaikeyī that Daśaratha is about to anoint Rāma as heir-apparent, presenting it as a dire threat to Kaikeyī.
Indirectly, Daśaratha’s commitment to royal procedure is implied; however, Mantharā’s speech foregrounds fear-mongering rather than virtue.