Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 5
मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च
Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons
हन्तेदानीं प्रवक्ष्यामि कैकेयि श्रूयतां च मे।यथा ते भरतो राज्यं पुत्रः प्राप्स्यति केवलम्।।।।
hantedānīṃ pravakṣyāmi kaikeyi śrūyatāṃ ca me |
yathā te bharato rājyaṃ putraḥ prāpsyati kevalam ||
बरं, आता मी सांगते, हे कैकेयी—माझे वचन ऐक; ज्याप्रमाणे तुझा पुत्र भरत एकटाच राज्य प्राप्त करील॥
In you reside a thousand deceitful means more than all the thousand mayas (tricks) of Sambara, king of the asuras, was capable of.
FAQs
The verse shows a deliberate move toward adharma: ambition and favoritism are placed above rightful succession and family duty, warning how persuasion can be used to undermine dharma.
Mantharā begins outlining to Kaikeyī a plan to secure the throne exclusively for Bharata, setting the stage for Kaikeyī’s demands and Rāma’s exile.
Not virtue but a vice is highlighted—Mantharā’s cunning and manipulative intent, contrasting with the Ramayana’s ideal of truthful, dharmic counsel.