Valmiki Ramayana 2.8.22: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 22
मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī
Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm
भविता राघवो राजा राघवस्यानु यस्सुतः।राजवंशात्तु कैकेयि भरतःपरिहास्यते।।2.8.22।।
bhavitā rāghavo rājā rāghavasyānu yas sutaḥ | rājavaṃśāt tu kaikeyi bharataḥ parihāsyate || 2.8.22 ||
রাঘবই রাজা হবে, আর রাঘবের পরে তারই পুত্র রাজ্য লাভ করবে। কিন্তু হে কৈকেয়ী, ভরত রাজবংশ থেকে বিচ্যুত হয়ে পরিহাসের পাত্র হবে॥
Rama, the scion of the Raghus, will become king. After Rama, his son will suceed him. O Kaikeyi, as for Bharata, he will be debarred from royal succession (altogether).
FAQs
It highlights how adharma can be seeded by fear of status-loss; dharma calls for truth-based counsel, not incitement that fractures family and social order.
Mantharā paints a dire future: Rāma’s reign followed by his son, leaving Bharata marginalized—meant to provoke Kaikeyī into intervention.
The implied virtue is loyalty to truth and justice in counsel; Mantharā instead exemplifies the vice of alarmist persuasion.
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