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

അതുകൊണ്ട്, ഹേ കൈകേയീ—ഹേ നിർദോഷാംഗിയേ—രാജാക്കന്മാർ ഭരണതന്ത്രത്തിന്റെ ഭാരമോ ജ്യേഷ്ഠപുത്രനേയ്ക്ക് ഏല്പിക്കുന്നു; അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഗുണസമ്പന്നനായ മറ്റൊരു പുത്രനേയ്ക്കും ഏല്പിക്കുന്നു.

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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.