Valmiki Ramayana 2.8.11: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 11

मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī

Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm

Devanagari script

एवं चेत्त्वं सहास्माभिस्तस्याः प्रेष्या भविष्यसि।पुत्रश्च तव रामस्य प्रेष्यभावं गमिष्यति।।2.8.11।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.8.11

Transliteration

evaṃ cet tvaṃ sahāsmābhis tasyāḥ preṣyā bhaviṣyasi | putraś ca tava rāmasya preṣyabhāvaṃ gamiṣyati || 2.8.11 ||

Translation

ಹೀಗೆ ಆಗಿದರೆ, ನಮ್ಮೊಡನೆ ನೀನು ಅವಳ ಪ್ರೇಷ್ಯೆಯಾಗುವೆ; ನಿನ್ನ ಪುತ್ರನೂ ರಾಮನಿಗೆ ದಾಸ್ಯಭಾವಕ್ಕೆ ಒಳಗಾಗುವನು.

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Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीति-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहकार-अव्यय (preposition-like; ‘with’)

• अस्माभिः: with us
• अस्माभिः: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुवचन, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), ‘by/with us’

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• प्रेष्या: a servant/attendant
• प्रेष्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘one who is to be sent/servant’

• भविष्यसि: you will become
• भविष्यसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Future), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तव: your
• तव: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• प्रेष्यभावम्: servile state
• प्रेष्यभावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेष्य + भाव (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रेष्यस्य भावः) ‘state of servitude’

• गमिष्यति: will go/attain
• गमिष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Future), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

If you thus become her attendant along with us, your son will also develop slavishness towards Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Manthara
• Kaikeyi
• Rama

FAQs

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

The verse demonstrates unethical persuasion: appealing to pride and fear to overturn rightful order, rather than honoring truth and justice.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā escalates her argument, insisting that Kaikeyi and Bharata will be reduced in status if Rama becomes king.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The need for loyalty to dharma over ego—resisting decisions rooted in status-anxiety.