Valmiki Ramayana 2.8.6: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 6
मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः · Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī
Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm
लक्ष्मणो हि महेष्वासो रामं सर्वात्मना गतः ।
शत्रुघ्नश्चापि भरतं काकुत्स्थं लक्ष्मणो यथा ॥६॥
lakṣmaṇo hi maheṣvāso rāmaṃ sarvātmanā gataḥ |
śatrughnaś cāpi bharataṃ kākutsthaṃ lakṣmaṇo yathā ||6||
Lakṣmaṇa, der große Bogenschütze, ist Rāma mit seinem ganzen Wesen ergeben; und Śatrughna ist ebenso Bharata ergeben—so wie Lakṣmaṇa dem Kakutstha, Rāma, ergeben ist.
Lakshmana who wields a great bow has taken refuge with all his heart in Rama adescendant of Kakutstha dynasty. So does Satrughna in Bharata.
FAQs
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.
Mantharā maps the household’s alliance structure—Lakṣmaṇa with Rāma and Śatrughna with Bharata—to intensify Kaikeyī’s sense of political stakes.
Devotion and steadfast loyalty (bhakti/niṣṭhā) among brothers is highlighted, especially Lakṣmaṇa’s wholehearted commitment.
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