Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 17
मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī
Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm
सा त्वमभ्युदये प्राप्ते वर्तमाने च मन्थरे।भविष्यति च कल्याणे किमर्थं परितप्यसे।।2.8.17।।
sā tvam abhyudaye prāpte vartamāne ca manthare | bhaviṣyati ca kalyāṇe kimarthaṃ paritapyase || 2.8.17 ||
マンタラーよ、汝はすでに栄えを得、今もそれを保ち、未来にも吉祥は続くであろう。されば、なぜ嘆くのか。
Manthara, we have enjoyed prosperity in the past, we are enjoying it now and we will enjoy it in future. Then why are you aggrieved?
FAQs
Dharma here aligns with steadiness of mind and right discernment: one should not fall into needless grief when circumstances are secure, but evaluate emotions in light of reality.
Kaikeyī questions Mantharā’s distress, believing the palace situation is favorable and stable, and asks why she is troubled.
Pragmatic composure and confidence—Kaikeyī presents a rational, outwardly calm assessment of their present and future security.