Valmiki Ramayana 2.8.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 16

मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī

Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm

Devanagari script

भरतश्चापि रामस्य ध्रुवं वर्षशतात्परम्।पितृपैतामहं राज्यमवाप्ता पुरुषर्षभः।।2.8.16।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.8.16

Transliteration

bharataś cāpi rāmasya dhruvaṃ varṣaśatāt param | pitṛpaitāmahaṃ rājyam avāptā puruṣarṣabhaḥ || 2.8.16 ||

Translation

আর ভরতও—নিশ্চয়ই—রামের শতবর্ষাধিক রাজত্বের পরে, সেই নরশ্রেষ্ঠ পিতৃ-পৈতামহ রাজ্য লাভ করবেন।

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Word by Word

• भरतः: Bharata
• भरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-भाव-अव्यय (also)

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

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय-अव्यय (certainly)

• वर्षशतात्: from a hundred years
• वर्षशतात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्षशत (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (शतं वर्षाणि) ‘from a hundred years’

• परम्: beyond, after
• परम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे क्रियाविशेषण (beyond; used adverbially)

• पितृपैतामहम्: ancestral
• पितृपैतामहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ + पैतामह (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (पितृकं च पैतामहं च) ‘ancestral (father’s and grandfather’s)’

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अवाप्ता: will obtain
• अवाप्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवाप्त (कृदन्त; अव-√आप् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) used with future sense in context ‘will obtain/inherit’

• पुरुषर्षभः: best of men
• पुरुषर्षभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पुरुषाणां ऋषभः) ‘best of men’

Context

After a hundred years of Rama's rule, Bharata, the best of men, will get the kingdom of his ancestors.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyi
• Manthara
• Rama
• Bharata

FAQs

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

Dharma values orderly succession and patience: Kaikeyi frames inheritance as a lawful, time-bound continuity rather than a prize to seize through intrigue.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyi reassures Mantharā that Bharata is not harmed by Rama’s coronation; in due course he too will receive the ancestral kingship.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Trust in lawful order and restraint—accepting what comes through dharma rather than forcing outcomes through deception.