Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 28
मन्थराप्रवेशः
Manthara Observes Ayodhya and Incites Kaikeyi
यथा हि कुर्यात्सर्पो वा शत्रुर्वा प्रत्युपेक्षितः।राज्ञा दशरथेनाद्य सपुत्रा त्वं तथा कृता।।।।
yathā hi kuryāt sarpo vā śatrur vā pratyupekṣitaḥ | rājñā daśarathenādya saputrā tvaṃ tathā kṛtā ||
Như rắn bị bỏ mặc—hay kẻ thù bị khinh suất—sẽ hành động thế nào, thì hôm nay vua Daśaratha đã đối đãi với nàng và con nàng đúng như vậy.
King Dasaratha has done to you and to your son the same thing as a snake or anenemy would do when ignored.
FAQs
It frames neglect as ethically dangerous; dharma in relationships and rule requires attentive fairness, not disregard that breeds hostility.
Mantharā argues that Kaikeyī and Bharata are being strategically ignored, likening it to provoking a snake/enemy.
Respectful attention to obligations is the implied virtue—presented as lacking in Daśaratha, according to Mantharā.