Valmiki Ramayana 2.35.8: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 8

सुमन्त्रस्य कैकेयी-निन्दा

Sumantra’s Reproof of Kaikeyi in the Royal Assembly

Addressed to KaikeyiSetting: Ayodhya palace (counsel/admonition context)Places named: Ayodhya

Devanagari script

मावमंस्था दशरथं भर्तारं वरदं पतिम् ।

भर्तुरिच्छा हि नारीणां पुत्रकोट्या विशिष्यते ॥८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.35.8

Transliteration

māvamaṃsthā daśarathaṃ bhartāraṃ varadaṃ patim |

bhartur icchā hi nārīṇāṃ putrakoṭyā viśiṣyate ||8||

Translation

Schmähe Daśaratha nicht — deinen Gatten, deinen Beschützer, den Spender von Gnaden; denn für eine Frau gilt der Wunsch des Ehemanns als kostbarer als zehn Millionen Söhne.

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Word by Word

• यथा: according as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण/सम्बन्धबोधक अव्यय (according as)
• Role: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)

• अवयः: age
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘age/period of life’
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• हि: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)

• राज्यानि: kingdoms
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• प्राप्नुवन्ति: obtain
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• नृपक्षये: at the king's death
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/locative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नृपस्य क्षयः)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• इक्ष्वाकुकुलनाथे: in the lord of Ikshvaku line (Rama)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इक्ष्वाकु + कुल + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (इक्ष्वाकुकुलस्य नाथः)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• अस्मिन्: in this
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• तत्: that (order/arrangement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• लोपयितुम्: to destroy/abolish
• Type: Verb
• Root: लुप् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); णिच्-प्रयोग (causative) ‘to cause to disappear/break’
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)

• इच्छसि: you wish
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• नाथेऽस्मिन् → नाथे + अस्मिन्
• स्तल्लोपयितुमिच्छसि (पाठभेद) → तत् + लोपयितुम् + इच्छसि

Context

Do not have contempt for Dasaratha who is your husband, nourisher and bestower of boons. For a wife, the desire of her husband is considered worthier than tenmillion sons.

The teaching

Household and royal stability depend on honoring pledged words and respecting rightful bonds—yet such norms demand discernment to avoid becoming instruments of harm.

Duties in tension

• Strī-dharma (honor husband’s wish) versus maternal attachment to son(s)
• Royal boon-keeping versus compassionate governance

Ethical theme

Gṛhastha-dharma / strī-dharma

How it resolves

Role-ethic assertion (prioritizing husband’s will as normative)

For your practice

Invites reflection on fidelity, vows, and discernment in duty.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Raudra (fury)

Mood

Didactic, restraining, grave

Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics
• Marriage
• Maryada
• Satya

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

It presents a traditional marital ethic: honoring the spouse and prioritizing the husband’s rightful intention, framing conjugal duty as a central dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī recalls counsel given to her about how a queen should relate to her husband, Daśaratha, especially regarding respect and compliance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respectful conduct (maryādā) within marriage—restraint from contempt and commitment to relational duty.