Valmiki Ramayana 2.8.38: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 38
मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī
Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm
यदा हि रामः पृथिवीमवाप्स्यतिप्रभूतरत्नाकरशैलपत्तनाम्।तदा गमिष्यस्यशुभं पराभवंसहैव दीना भरतेन भामिनि।।2.8.38।।
yadā hi rāmaḥ pṛthivīm avāpsyati
prabhūtaratnākaraśailapattanām |
tadā gamiṣyasy aśubhaṃ parābhavaṃ
sahaiva dīnā bharatena bhāmini || 2.8.38 ||
Ô belle dame, lorsque Rāma obtiendra cette terre, riche d’océans, de montagnes et de cités, alors toi, avec Bharata, tu tomberas dans le malheur, la détresse et l’opprobre.
O beautiful lady! in order of birth, too, Bharata's right to the throne is just next (to Rama's). While being younger, the chances of the other two (Lakshmana and Satrughna) are remote.
FAQs
It contrasts worldly power with personal security; dharma teaches that status is unstable and should not be pursued through injustice. The verse is used to inflame anxiety rather than uphold satya.
Mantharā predicts Kaikeyī’s disgrace if Rāma becomes king, attempting to push Kaikeyī toward drastic action.
The verse indirectly foregrounds the need for truth-oriented counsel; it shows how prophecy-like rhetoric can be used to manipulate decisions.
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