Valmiki Ramayana 2.8.36: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 36

मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī

Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm

Devanagari script

अभिद्रुतमिवारण्ये सिंहेन गजयूथपम्।प्रच्छाद्यमानं रामेण भरतं त्रातुमर्हसि।।2.8.36।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.8.36

Transliteration

abhidrutam ivāraṇye siṃhena gajayūthapam |

pracchādyamānaṃ rāmeṇa bharataṃ trātum arhasi || 2.8.36 ||

Translation

Tel le chef d’un troupeau d’éléphants dans la forêt, assailli par un lion, ainsi Bharata sera accablé par Rāma ; il te sied de le sauver.

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Word by Word

• abhidrutam: attacked / chased
• abhidrutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-dru (धातु)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; upamāna-object with gajayūthapam

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक (like)

• āraṇye: in the forest
• āraṇye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āraṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• siṃhena: by a lion
• siṃhena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• gajayūthapam: the leader of an elephant herd
• gajayūthapam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक) + yūthapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (गजानां यूथपः = leader of elephants); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• pracchādyamānam: being overpowered/covered
• pracchādyamānam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-chad (धातु)
• Form: शानच्-कृदन्त (present passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘being covered/overpowered’

• rāmeṇa: by Rama
• rāmeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

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

• trātum: to save
• trātum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: trā (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to save’

• arhasi: you ought
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

Since Bharata and Rama have equal claim to the kingdom, Bharata is a source of fear for Rama. Having thought over this matter, I am dejected. Danger springs from one who is in fear.

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā
• Kaikeyī
• Bharata
• Rāma
• Araṇya (forest, as simile setting)
• Siṃha (lion, simile)

FAQs

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

It appeals to a mother’s protective duty, but redirects it toward unjust rivalry. Dharma would protect children without violating truth and fairness toward others.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā uses a vivid animal simile to intensify Kaikeyī’s fear that Rāma will dominate Bharata.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protectiveness is invoked as a virtue, though the verse shows how that impulse can be manipulated into adharma when paired with suspicion.