← 2.8.14 · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 8: Mantharā turns Kaikeyī’s mind · 2.8.16 →

Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.8.15

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 8: Mantharā turns Kaikeyī’s mind. Kaikeyī defends Rāma, Mantharā argues that his descendants will exclude Bharata’s line and urges Rāma’s exile

In the sequence: Mantharā argues that Rāma's own son will succeed him, shutting Bharata's branch out of the royal line

2.8.15

tasmāj jyeṣṭhe hi kaikeyi rājyatantrāṇi pārthivāḥ
sthāpayanty anavadyāṅgi guṇavatsv itareṣv api

Therefore, O Kaikeyī, kings place the reins of the realm upon the eldest, O faultless-limbed one, even when the other sons are endowed with virtues.

Words: tasmāj — therefore; jyeṣṭhe — upon the eldest; hi — indeed; kaikeyi — O Kaikeyī; rājyatantrāṇi — the reins of the kingdom; pārthivāḥ — kings; sthāpayanty — place, establish; anavadyāṅgi — O you of faultless limbs; guṇavatsv — among the virtuous; itareṣv api — even the others

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.