Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 35
मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī
Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm
स ते सुखोचितो बालो रामस्य सहजो रिपुः।समृद्धार्थस्य नष्टार्थो जीविष्यति कथं वशे।।2.8.35।।
sa te sukhocito bālo rāmasya sahajo ripuḥ |
samṛddhārthasya naṣṭārtho jīviṣyati kathaṃ vaśe || 2.8.35 ||
กุมารนั้น—ภรตะโอรสของท่าน—ผู้เคยชินกับความสุขสบาย โดยสันดานย่อมเป็นคู่แข่งของพระราม ครั้นเมื่อสิ้นไร้ทรัพย์และอำนาจแล้ว เขาจะดำรงชีพอยู่ใต้บังคับของพระรามผู้รุ่งเรืองได้อย่างไร
I pity your false notion. Will any wise woman rejoice at the prosperity of the son of a co-wife who is like an enemy? This is like (courting) death.
FAQs
It implicitly warns that attachment to comfort and status makes one vulnerable; dharma calls for restraint and truthfulness, whereas this counsel pushes suspicion and hostility.
Mantharā tries to convince Kaikeyī that Bharata cannot endure subordination if Rāma rules, thereby urging Kaikeyī to intervene.
By contrast (negatively), it highlights the need for equanimity and humility; the verse assumes Bharata’s dependence on luxury as a weakness.