Valmiki Ramayana 2.8.9 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 9

मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī

Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm

Devanagari script

सुभगा खलु कौशल्या यस्याः पुत्रोऽभिषेक्ष्यते।यौवराज्येन महता श्वः पुष्येण द्विजोत्तमैः।।2.8.9।।

Transliteration

subhagā khalu kauśalyā yasyāḥ putro 'bhiṣekṣyate |

yauvarājyena mahatā śvaḥ puṣyeṇa dvijottamaiḥ || 2.8.9 ||

Translation

De fato, afortunada é Kauśalyā: amanhã, sob a constelação de Puṣya, seu filho será consagrado por brâmanes eminentes ao grande posto de príncipe herdeiro.

Word by Word

• subhagā: fortunate
• subhagā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: subhagā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• khalu: indeed
• khalu: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: khalu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; निश्चय/प्रसिद्ध्यर्थक (indeed/surely)

• kauśalyā: Kauśalyā
• kauśalyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kauśalyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• yasyāḥ: whose
• yasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• abhiṣekṣyate: will be consecrated
• abhiṣekṣyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + sic (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• yauvarājyena: with the office of heir-apparent
• yauvarājyena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yauvarājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• mahatā: great
• mahatā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying yauvarājyena)

• śvaḥ: tomorrow
• śvaḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śvaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (tomorrow)

• puṣyeṇa: under (the star) Puṣya
• puṣyeṇa: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; नक्षत्रवाचक

• dvijottamaiḥ: by eminent brahmins
• dvijottamaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (dvijānām uttamāḥ = best of the twice-born)

Context

Kausalya whose son is going to be coronated as heir-apparent by eminentbrahmins under Pushya star tomorrow is fortunate, indeed.

Characters & Entities

• Kauśalyā
• Puṣya (nakṣatra)
• yauvarājya (heir-apparent consecration)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights rajadharma expressed through orderly, ritually sanctioned succession: a public consecration performed by qualified brāhmaṇas at an auspicious time, indicating legitimacy, social trust, and adherence to established norms.

What is the narrative situation?

News is being emphasized that the prince (Rāma, as understood in context) will be installed as heir-apparent the next day under Puṣya, and Kauśalyā is described as fortunate because her son is about to receive the consecration.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue implied is commitment to rightful order and public legitimacy—succession is not private ambition but a dharmic, community-validated act aligned with tradition and auspicious timing.