Valmiki Ramayana 2.8.35 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 35

मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī

Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm

Devanagari script

स ते सुखोचितो बालो रामस्य सहजो रिपुः।समृद्धार्थस्य नष्टार्थो जीविष्यति कथं वशे।।2.8.35।।

Transliteration

sa te sukhocito bālo rāmasya sahajo ripuḥ |

samṛddhārthasya naṣṭārtho jīviṣyati kathaṃ vaśe || 2.8.35 ||

Translation

સુખમાં ઉછરેલો તે બાળક—તારો ભરત—રામનો સહજ પ્રતિસ્પર્ધી છે. સમૃદ્ધ રામના વશમાં, સર્વ સાધનોથી વંચિત થઈ, તે કેવી રીતે જીવશે?

Word by Word

• saḥ: he (that one)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• sukhocitaḥ: accustomed to comforts
• sukhocitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + ucita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (सुखे उचितः = accustomed to comfort); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• bālaḥ: the boy/young one
• bālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• sahajaḥ: inborn
• sahajaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of ripuḥ

• ripuḥ: enemy
• ripuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ripu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• samṛddhārthasya: of the prosperous (Rama)
• samṛddhārthasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samṛddha (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (समृद्धः अर्थः यस्य/समृद्ध-अर्थः); here as adjective-noun ‘prosperous one’; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• naṣṭārthaḥ: ruined / deprived of means
• naṣṭārthaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (नष्टः अर्थः यस्य = one whose wealth is lost); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• jīviṣyati: will live
• jīviṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jīv (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• katham: how
• katham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• vaśe: under control
• vaśe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative, 7th), एकवचन

Context

I pity your false notion. Will any wise woman rejoice at the prosperity of the son of a co-wife who is like an enemy? This is like (courting) death.

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā
• Kaikeyī
• Bharata
• Rāma

FAQs

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

It implicitly warns that attachment to comfort and status makes one vulnerable; dharma calls for restraint and truthfulness, whereas this counsel pushes suspicion and hostility.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā tries to convince Kaikeyī that Bharata cannot endure subordination if Rāma rules, thereby urging Kaikeyī to intervene.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (negatively), it highlights the need for equanimity and humility; the verse assumes Bharata’s dependence on luxury as a weakness.