Valmiki Ramayana 2.8.28: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 28

मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī

Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm

Devanagari script

बाल एव हि मातुल्यं भरतो नायितस्त्वया।सन्निकर्षाच्च सौहार्दं जायते स्थावरेष्वपि।।2.8.28।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.8.28

Transliteration

bāla eva hi mātulyaṃ bharato nāyitas tvayā |

sannikarṣāc ca sauhārdaṃ jāyate sthāvareṣv api ||2.8.28||

Translation

Bharata khi còn thơ ấu đã được chính chàng đưa đến nhà cậu bên ngoại. Và sự gần gũi sinh ra thân ái—dẫu giữa những vật vô tri cũng vậy.

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Word by Word

• बालः: a child
• बालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एव: only/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (only/just)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतु-अव्यय

• मातुल्यम्: to the maternal uncle's home
• मातुल्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; मातुल्यं (to the maternal uncle's place/house)

• भरतः: Bharata
• भरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नायितः: was sent
• नायितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि—नियतः/प्रेषितः (was sent)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन

• सन्निकर्षात्: from proximity
• सन्निकर्षात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्निकर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• सौहार्दम्: friendship/affection
• सौहार्दम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौहार्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जायते: arises/is born
• जायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• स्थावरेषु: among immobile things
• स्थावरेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थावर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अप्यर्थ-अव्यय (even)

Context

Bharata has been sent by you right from his childhood to his maternal uncle's house. Proximity creates friendship even amongst the inanimate objects.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata

FAQs

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

It points to the ethical power of saṅga (association): relationships deepen through proximity; dharma in family life requires nurturing bonds rather than exploiting distance to create suspicion.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā argues that because Bharata has been away, Rāma’s alliances and affections in Ayodhyā have grown stronger—implying Bharata is unsafe if he returns late to a changed political landscape.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is familial care and responsible parenting/guardianship; Mantharā weaponizes an ordinary fact (Bharata’s upbringing away) for political ends.