Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 28
मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī
Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm
बाल एव हि मातुल्यं भरतो नायितस्त्वया।सन्निकर्षाच्च सौहार्दं जायते स्थावरेष्वपि।।2.8.28।।
bāla eva hi mātulyaṃ bharato nāyitas tvayā |
sannikarṣāc ca sauhārdaṃ jāyate sthāvareṣv api ||2.8.28||
Bharata masih kanak-kanak ketika engkau mengirimnya ke rumah paman dari pihak ibu. Dan kedekatan menumbuhkan kasih—bahkan pada benda yang tak bernyawa.
Bharata has been sent by you right from his childhood to his maternal uncle's house. Proximity creates friendship even amongst the inanimate objects.
FAQs
It points to the ethical power of saṅga (association): relationships deepen through proximity; dharma in family life requires nurturing bonds rather than exploiting distance to create suspicion.
Mantharā argues that because Bharata has been away, Rāma’s alliances and affections in Ayodhyā have grown stronger—implying Bharata is unsafe if he returns late to a changed political landscape.
The implied virtue is familial care and responsible parenting/guardianship; Mantharā weaponizes an ordinary fact (Bharata’s upbringing away) for political ends.