Valmiki Ramayana 2.8.21 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 21

मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī

Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm

Devanagari script

अनर्थदर्शिनी मौर्ख्यान्नात्मानमवबुध्यसे। शोकव्यसनविस्तीर्णे मज्जन्ती दुःखसागरे।।2.8.21।।

Transliteration

anarthadarśinī maurkhyān nātmānam avabudhyase | śokavyasana-vistīrṇe majjantī duḥkhasāgare || 2.8.21 ||

Translation

Cega pela insensatez, não compreendes a tua própria condição; afundas num oceano de tristeza, vasto pelo luto e pela desgraça, e não vês o mal que se aproxima.

Word by Word

• अनर्थ-दर्शिनी: one who sees harm (only)
• अनर्थ-दर्शिनी: Sambodhana/Addressed (सम्बोधनार्थ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शिन्/दर्शिनी (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-निष्ठ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (अनर्थं पश्यतीति)

• मौर्ख्यात्: from stupidity
• मौर्ख्यात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौर्ख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• आत्मानम्: yourself/self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अवबुध्यसे: you understand/perceive
• अवबुध्यसे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शोक-व्यसन-विस्तीर्णे: in (that which is) spread with grief and calamity
• शोक-व्यसन-विस्तीर्णे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यसन (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्तीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (शोकेन व्यसनेन च विस्तीर्णे)

• मज्जन्ती: sinking
• मज्जन्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मज्ज् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दुःख-सागरे: in the ocean of sorrow
• दुःख-सागरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दुःखस्य सागरः)

Context

You are sinking in the sea of sorrow widened with tears and troubles. But you are stupid enough not to perceive your own well-being.

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

The verse warns that ethical failure often begins with distorted perception; dharma requires clear seeing (yathārtha-darśana) rather than being driven by fear or confusion.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā intensifies her rhetoric, insisting Kaikeyī is unaware of looming danger, thereby pushing her toward suspicion and drastic action.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

A negative lesson: lack of discernment makes one vulnerable to bad counsel; the implied virtue is prudence and clarity.