Valmiki Ramayana 2.8.18 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 18

मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī

Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm

Devanagari script

यथा मे भरतो मान्यस्तथा भूयोऽपि राघवः।कौशल्यातोऽतिरिक्तं च सोऽनुशुश्रूषते हि माम्।।2.8.18।।

Transliteration

yathā me bharato mānyas tathā bhūyo 'pi rāghavaḥ | kauśalyāto 'tiriktaṃ ca so 'nuśuśrūṣate hi mām || 2.8.18 ||

Translation

Así como Bharata me es querido y digno de honra, así también—y aún más—lo es Rāghava; en verdad, él me sirve y me atiende incluso más allá de lo que hace por Kauśalyā.

Word by Word

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: यथार्थ-सम्बन्ध-अव्यय (correlative)

• मे: to me/of me
• मे: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; enclitic; सम्बन्ध

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

• मान्यः: worthy of respect
• मान्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तथा: so
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तथार्थ-सम्बन्ध-अव्यय (correlative)

• भूयः: more
• भूयः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/अधिक्य-अव्यय (more, rather)

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

• राघवः: Raghava (Rama)
• राघवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कौशल्यातः: than Kausalya
• कौशल्यातः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौसल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अपादान (comparison: ‘than Kausalya’)

• अतिरिक्तम्: more, in excess
• अतिरिक्तम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतिरिक्त (कृदन्त; अति-√रिच्/√रिच्)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणवत् नपुंसक-एकवचन-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative) ‘exceedingly/more’

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

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अनुशुश्रूषते: serves, attends
• अनुशुश्रूषते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-√श्रु (धातु; desiderative/attentive service sense)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतु/निश्चय-अव्यय (for/indeed)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

For me, if Bharata is worthy of consideration Rama is worthier. He serves me even more (scrupulously) than he does Kausalya.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rāma
• Kauśalyā

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as respectful conduct and service within the family: Rāma’s attentive care toward Kaikeyī models righteous behavior toward elders and step-mothers.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī reassures Mantharā by stating that Rāma is exceptionally respectful and devoted to her, implying no threat to her position or Bharata’s welfare.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s virtue of śuśrūṣā/sevā—humble, consistent service and regard for all mothers in the household.