Valmiki Ramayana 2.35.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 16
सुमन्त्रस्य कैकेयी-निन्दा
Sumantra’s Reproof of Kaikeyi in the Royal Assembly
आम्रं छित्वा कुठारेण निम्बं परिचरेत्तु यः ।
यश्चैनं पयसा सिञ्चेन्नैवास्य मधुरो भवेत् ॥१६॥
āmraṃ chitvā kuṭhāreṇa nimbaṃ paricarettu yaḥ |
yaś cainaṃ payasā siñcet naivāsya madhuro bhavet ||16||
Wenn jemand mit der Axt einen Mangobaum fällt und an seiner Stelle einen Neem pflegt, wird dieser, selbst wenn man ihn mit Milch begießt, niemals süß werden.
By axing a mango tree and growing a nimba in its place and sprinkling it with milk one does not get sweet fruit.
FAQs
Outer acts cannot transform inner nature without genuine moral reform; dharma is rooted in character (svabhāva), not in superficial displays or pampering.
Sumantra uses a sharp proverb to argue that Kaikeyi’s conduct reveals an ingrained disposition that cannot be ‘sweetened’ by external measures.
Discernment (viveka): Sumantra distinguishes between appearance and inherent moral quality.
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