Valmiki Ramayana 2.8.12: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 12

मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī

Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm

Devanagari script

हृष्टाः खलु भविष्यन्ति रामस्य परमास्स्त्रियः।अप्रहृष्टा भविष्यन्ति स्नुषास्ते भरतक्षये।।2.8.12।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.8.12

Transliteration

hṛṣṭāḥ khalu bhaviṣyanti rāmasya paramāḥ striyaḥ | aprahṛṣṭā bhaviṣyanti snuṣās te bharata-kṣaye || 2.8.12 ||

Translation

রামের পক্ষের সকল নারী নিশ্চয়ই আনন্দিত হবে; কিন্তু ভরত ক্ষয়প্রাপ্ত হলে তোমার পুত্রবধূরা আনন্দহীন হয়ে পড়বে।

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Word by Word

• हृष्टाः: delighted
• हृष्टाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष्ट (कृदन्त; √हृष् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• खलु: indeed
• खलु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खलु (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/प्रत्यय-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• भविष्यन्ति: will become
• भविष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Future), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परमाः: excellent, foremost
• परमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अप्रहृष्टाः: not delighted
• अप्रहृष्टाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + प्रहृष्ट (कृदन्त; √हृष्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; नञ्-समासपूर्वक विशेषण ‘not delighted’

• भविष्यन्ति: will become
• भविष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• स्नुषाः: daughters-in-law
• स्नुषाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नुषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ते: your
• ते: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; enclitic form; सम्बन्ध

• भरतक्षये: in Bharata's decline
• भरतक्षये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भरतस्य क्षये) ‘at the decline of Bharata’

Context

All the women of Rama's (palace) will be delighted indeed. With the decline of Bharata, your daughters-in-law will be deprived of all happiness.

Characters & Entities

• Manthara
• Kaikeyi
• Rama
• Bharata
• women of the palace

FAQs

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

It shows how dharma can be obscured by factional thinking—measuring justice by ‘our side vs their side’ rather than by rightful conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā tries to stir Kaikeyi by predicting social humiliation and sorrow for Bharata’s household if Rama is enthroned.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Impartiality and truthfulness—seeing beyond partisan emotion to what is right.