Shloka 2.8.33

मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī (Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm)

Devanagari script

तस्माद्राजगृहादेव वनं गच्छतु ते सुतः।एतद्धि रोचते मह्यं भृशं चापि हितं तव।।2.8.33।।

Transliteration

tasmād rājagṛhād eva vanaṃ gacchatu te sutaḥ |

etad dhi rocate mahyaṃ bhṛśaṃ cāpi hitaṃ tava ||2.8.33||

Translation

Therefore let your son go straight to the forest from Rājagṛha itself. This alone pleases me—and in truth it is greatly beneficial for you as well.

Context

Therefore let your son go to the forest straight from his uncle's palace only. That alone will please me. For you also this is highly beneficial.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata (implied as 'your son')
• Rājagṛha
• vana (forest)

FAQs

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

It shows how counsel can be presented as ‘beneficial’ while being ethically inverted; dharma requires advice grounded in truth and welfare (hita) for all, not self-serving intrigue.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā proposes a drastic ‘solution’—sending Bharata to the forest—framing it as protection, while actually steering Kaikeyī toward extreme measures and factional outcomes.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is responsible counsel (mantra) aligned with satya; the verse demonstrates its counterfeit—strategic persuasion masked as concern.