Shloka 2.35.2
सुमन्त्रस्य कैकेयी-निन्दा (Sumantra’s Reproof of Kaikeyi in the Royal Assembly)
ततो निर्धूय सहसा शिरो निश्श्वस्य चासकृत्। पाणौ पाणिं विनिष्पिष्य दन्तान् कटकटाप्य च ।।2.35.1।।लोचने कोपसंरक्ते वर्णं पूर्वोचितं जहत्। कोपाभिभूतस्सहसा सन्तापमशुभं गतः।।2.35.2।।मनः समीक्षमाणश्च सूतो दशरथस्य सः। कम्पयन्निव कैकेय्या हृदयं वाक्छरैश्शितैः ।।2.35.3।।वाक्यवज्रैरनुपमैर्निर्भिन्दन्निव चाशुभैः। कैकेय्या स्सर्वमर्माणि सुमन्त्रः प्रत्यभाषत।।2.35.4।।
tato jṛmbhasya śayane virutād bhūri-varcasaḥ |
pitus te vidito bhāvaḥ sa tatra bahudhā ahasat ||2.35.20||
Then, near his bed, at the sound made by ‘Jṛmbha’, your father—radiant with great brilliance—understood its intent and laughed there again and again.
Overcome with anger, charioteer Sumantra started shaking his head and sighing off and on, crushing his palms and grinding his teeth. His eyes turned red due to anger. Overcome with a sudden, ominous grief, the complexion of his face turned red. Sumantra understood the mind of Dasaratha. With sharp arrows of words as if piercing the heart of Kaikeyi, he denounced her in exceptionally harsh words which, like thunderbolt, cut her to the quick:
Knowledge and extraordinary gifts (boons) should be governed by restraint and wise conduct; otherwise they can trigger suspicion, conflict, and harm—testing one’s adherence to dharma.
Sumantra narrates an incident illustrating the boon: Kaikeyi’s father understands an animal/creature’s utterance and laughs, which becomes the seed of domestic discord.
Insight (prajñā): the king’s ability to discern meaning from sound—an exceptional capacity that must be ethically managed.