Valmiki Ramayana 2.35.23: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 23
सुमन्त्रस्य कैकेयी-निन्दा
Sumantra’s Reproof of Kaikeyi in the Royal Assembly
माता ते पितरं देवि ततः केकयमब्रवीत् ।
शंस मे जीव वा मा वा न मामपहसिष्यसि ॥२३॥
mātā te pitaraṃ devi tataḥ kekayam abravīt |
śaṃsa me jīva vā mā vā na mām apahasiṣyasi ||23||
Da sprach, o Königin, deine Mutter zu deinem Vater, dem König von Kekaya: »Ob du lebst oder stirbst, sage mir die Wahrheit der Sache — verhöhne mich nicht.«
Then your mother said to your father, 'Whether you live or die, tell me the cause. You are laughing at me'.
FAQs
It stresses satya (truthful disclosure) and relational responsibility: in intimate bonds, one should speak plainly and not dismiss the other through ridicule.
In Kaikeyī’s backstory, her mother confronts the Kekaya king and demands an honest explanation rather than evasive laughter.
Moral seriousness and insistence on truth—refusing to accept mockery where clarity and honesty are due.
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