Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 6
मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī
Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm
लक्ष्मणो हि महेष्वासो रामं सर्वात्मना गतः।शत्रुघ्नश्चापि भरतं काकुत्स्थं लक्ष्मणो यथा।।2.8.6।।
lakṣmaṇo hi maheṣvāso rāmaṃ sarvātmanā gataḥ |
śatrughnaś cāpi bharataṃ kākutsthaṃ lakṣmaṇo yathā || 2.8.6 ||
لکشمن، وہ مہان دھنوردھر، اپنی پوری ہستی کے ساتھ رام کے سپرد ہے؛ اور شترغن بھی اسی طرح بھرت کے سپرد ہے—جیسے لکشمن کاکُتستھ (رام) کے لیے ہے۔
Being fortunate (being the favourite wife of your husband) you slighted your co-wifeearlier with pride. How will she, Rama's mother (Kausalya) remain without retaliating?
FAQs
The verse acknowledges strong fraternal loyalties; dharmically, such loyalty is admirable when aligned with righteousness, but can be weaponized in court intrigue when driven by factionalism.
Mantharā maps the household’s alliance structure—Lakṣmaṇa with Rāma and Śatrughna with Bharata—to intensify Kaikeyī’s sense of political stakes.
Devotion and steadfast loyalty (bhakti/niṣṭhā) among brothers is highlighted, especially Lakṣmaṇa’s wholehearted commitment.