Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 37
मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī
Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm
दर्पान्निराकृता पूर्वं त्वया सौभाग्यवत्तया।राममाता सपत्नी ते कथं वैरं न शातयेत्।।2.8.37।।
darpān nirākṛtā pūrvaṃ tvayā saubhāgyavattayā |
rāmamātā sapatnī te kathaṃ vairaṃ na śātayet || 2.8.37 ||
Dahulu, karena kesombongan—sebab engkau sedang dipuja dan beruntung—engkau merendahkan ibu Rama, madu-mu itu. Bagaimana mungkin ia tidak membalas permusuhan itu?
Lakshmana who wields a great bow has taken refuge with all his heart in Rama adescendant of Kakutstha dynasty. So does Satrughna in Bharata.
FAQs
It underscores karmic/social consequence: pride and humiliation within relationships breed resentment. Dharma recommends humility and reconciliation rather than perpetuating cycles of retaliation.
Mantharā reminds Kaikeyī of past slights against Kausalyā to suggest that Kausalyā (through Rāma) will retaliate if Rāma gains power.
The implied virtue is humility (amānitva) and restraint; the verse highlights how arrogance destabilizes household harmony.