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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.8.17

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: she claims Bharata's long absence has weakened his position and that Rāma may exile or kill him once his power is secure

2.8.17

sāhaṃ tvadarthe saṃprāptā tvaṃ tu māṃ nāvabudhyase
sapatnivṛddhau yā me tvaṃ pradeyaṃ dātum icchasi

I have come here for your very sake, yet you do not understand me — you who would give me a reward at a moment that spells your rival's triumph.

Words: sāhaṃ — I who am such; tvadarthe — for your sake; saṃprāptā — have come; tvaṃ tu — but you; māṃ — me; nāvabudhyase — do not understand; sapatnivṛddhau — at the prospering of a rival co-wife; yā — who; me — to me; tvaṃ — you; pradeyaṃ — a gift, something to be given; dātum icchasi — wish to give

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.