Valmiki Ramayana 2.8.24: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 24

मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः · Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī

Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm

Devanagari script

तस्माज्ज्येष्ठे हि कैकेयि राज्यतन्त्राणि पार्थिवाः ।

स्थापयन्त्यनवद्याङ्गि गुणवत्स्वितरेष्वपि ॥२४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.8.24

Transliteration

tasmāj jyeṣṭhe hi kaikeyi rājyatantrāṇi pārthivāḥ |

sthāpayanty anavadyāṅgi guṇavatsv itareṣv api ||24||

Translation

इसलिए कैकेयी, राजा लोग बड़े बेटे को राज दे देते हैं। या अगर कोई और बेटा है जो अच्छा है, उसको भी राज दे सकते हैं। यही राज का दस्तूर है।

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Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभावप्रयोगः; हेत्वर्थे (therefore/from that reason)

• ज्येष्ठे: in the eldest (son)
• ज्येष्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ज्येष्ठे (in the eldest)

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

• कैकेयि: O Kaikeyi
• कैकेयि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• राज्य-तन्त्राणि: affairs/administration of the kingdom
• राज्य-तन्त्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + तन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (राज्यस्य तन्त्राणि)

• पार्थिवाः: kings
• पार्थिवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्थापयन्ति: they establish/entrust
• स्थापयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; causative sense (णिच्) implied: स्थापयन्ति (they establish/entrust)

• अनवद्य-अङ्गि: O flawless-limbed one
• अनवद्य-अङ्गि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनवद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गिन्/अङ्गि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (अनवद्यानि अङ्गानि यस्याः सा)

• गुणवत्सु: among the virtuous
• गुणवत्सु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुणवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (in the virtuous ones)

• इतरेषु: among the others
• इतरेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

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

Context

O Kaikeyi of beautiful limbs, for that reason kings bestow the governance of the kingdom either on the eldest or on other virtuous sons.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

It gestures to rājadharma: rulers should ensure competent, legitimate governance by entrusting rule to the rightful/qualified heir—yet the ethical test is whether this principle is applied truthfully and without malice.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā presents a generalized political rule about succession to make Kaikeyī believe Bharata’s interests must be secured immediately.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The invoked virtue is governance by merit and legitimacy; the scene contrasts that ideal with the brewing intent to subvert rightful succession.