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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.9.8

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 9: Mantharā’s plan for the boons. She recalls Kaikeyī’s rescue of Daśaratha and urges Bharata’s abhiṣeka and fourteen years of exile for Rāma

In the sequence: Kaikeyī now resolves to make Bharata King and send Rāma away; she asks Mantharā how to accomplish it

2.9.8

evam uktā tayā devyā mantharā pāpadarśinī
rāmārtham upahiṃsantī kubjā vacanam abravīt

Thus addressed by the queen, Mantharā of evil vision, working to injure Rāma, the hunchback spoke these words:

Words: evam uktā — thus addressed; tayā devyā — by that queen; mantharā — Mantharā; pāpadarśinī — of evil vision; rāmārtham — against Rāma's interest; upahiṃsantī — working harm, injuring; kubjā — the hunchback; vacanam abravīt — spoke these words

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.