Valmiki Ramayana 2.8.6: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 6

मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī

Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm

Devanagari script

लक्ष्मणो हि महेष्वासो रामं सर्वात्मना गतः।शत्रुघ्नश्चापि भरतं काकुत्स्थं लक्ष्मणो यथा।।2.8.6।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.8.6

Transliteration

lakṣmaṇo hi maheṣvāso rāmaṃ sarvātmanā gataḥ |

śatrughnaś cāpi bharataṃ kākutsthaṃ lakṣmaṇo yathā || 2.8.6 ||

Translation

মহাধনুর্ধর লক্ষ্মণ সর্বাত্মভাবে রামের প্রতি নিবেদিত; আর শত্রুঘ্নও তেমনি ভরতের প্রতি—যেমন কাকুৎস্থ রামের প্রতি লক্ষ্মণ।

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Word by Word

• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakṣmaṇa
• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; निश्चयार्थक

• maheṣvāsaḥ: great archer
• maheṣvāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + iṣvāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (great + bowman)

• rāmam: Rāma
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sarvātmanā: with all his heart / wholly
• sarvātmanā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarva + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; तृतीया-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययवत् (with whole self/entirely)

• gataḥ: has gone to / has resorted to
• gataḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śatrughnaḥ: Śatrughna
• śatrughnaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatrughna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; अपि = also/even

• bharatam: Bharata
• bharatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kākutstham: the Kakutstha (Rāma)
• kākutstham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākutstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपाधि (epithet of Rāma)

• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakṣmaṇa
• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान-प्रयोगे (as Lakṣmaṇa does)

• yathā: as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (as/just as)

Context

Being fortunate (being the favourite wife of your husband) you slighted your co-wifeearlier with pride. How will she, Rama's mother (Kausalya) remain without retaliating?

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā
• Kaikeyī
• Rāma
• Bharata
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Śatrughna

FAQs

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

The verse acknowledges strong fraternal loyalties; dharmically, such loyalty is admirable when aligned with righteousness, but can be weaponized in court intrigue when driven by factionalism.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā maps the household’s alliance structure—Lakṣmaṇa with Rāma and Śatrughna with Bharata—to intensify Kaikeyī’s sense of political stakes.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Devotion and steadfast loyalty (bhakti/niṣṭhā) among brothers is highlighted, especially Lakṣmaṇa’s wholehearted commitment.