Valmiki Ramayana 2.8.7 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 7

मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī

Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm

Devanagari script

प्रत्यासन्नक्रमेणापि भरतस्यैव भामिनि।राज्यक्रमो विप्रकृष्टस्तयोस्तावत्कनीयसोः।।2.8.7।।

Transliteration

pratyāsannakrameṇāpi bharatasyaiva bhāmini |

rājyakramo viprakṛṣṭas tayos tāvat kanīyasoḥ || 2.8.7 ||

Translation

美丽的夫人啊，即便依出生次序，王位继承也紧随婆罗多而来；至于那两位更年少者，其前景尚且遥远。

Word by Word

• pratyāsannakrameṇa: by the nearer order (of birth)
• pratyāsannakrameṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratyāsanna + krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (pratyāsanna-krama = nearer order/sequence, i.e., by proximity in birth order)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; ‘also/even’

• bharatasya: of Bharata
• bharatasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• eva: only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय

• bhāmini: O passionate/beautiful woman
• bhāmini: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāminī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन, एकवचन; स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• rājyakramaḥ: succession to the kingdom
• rājyakramaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya + krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (rājyasya kramaḥ = succession to the kingdom)

• viprakṛṣṭaḥ: is far removed
• viprakṛṣṭaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + pra + kṛṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• tayoḥ: of the two
• tayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी, द्विवचन

• tāvat: so far / for now
• tāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/अवधि-वाचक-अव्यय (so much/for the time being)

• kanīyasoḥ: of the two younger (brothers)
• kanīyasoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanīyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तुलनात्मक-विशेषण (comparative used substantively); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचन; ‘of the two younger ones’

Context

O lovely lady! when Rama becomes the lord of this earth with its oceans, mountains and cities, then along with Bharata you will become miserable and fall into disgrace.

Characters & Entities

• Mantharā
• Kaikeyī
• Bharata
• Lakṣmaṇa (implied among younger)
• Śatrughna (implied among younger)
• Rājya (kingship/kingdom)

FAQs

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

It points to succession norms; dharma in kingship involves orderly transfer of power, but the verse is used rhetorically to provoke ambition rather than uphold justice.

What is the narrative situation?

Mantharā stresses Bharata’s closeness to the throne to persuade Kaikeyī that immediate action can secure Bharata’s kingship.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse implicitly contrasts rightful order with manipulative intent; it invites reflection on integrity in political counsel.