Shloka 2.35.3

सुमन्त्रस्य कैकेयी-निन्दा (Sumantra’s Reproof of Kaikeyi in the Royal Assembly)

Devanagari script

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।।

Transliteration

tato nirdhūya sahasā śiro niḥśvasya cāsakṛt | pāṇau pāṇiṁ viniṣpiṣya dantān kaṭakaṭāpya ca ||2.35.1||

locane kopasaṁrakte varṇaṁ pūrvocitaṁ jahat | kopābhibhūtaḥ sahasā santāpam aśubhaṁ gataḥ ||2.35.2||

manaḥ samīkṣamāṇaś ca sūto daśarathasya saḥ | kampayann iva kaikeyyā hṛdayaṁ vāk-śaraiḥ śitaiḥ ||2.35.3||

vākya-vajrair anupamair nirbhindann iva cāśubhaiḥ | kaikeyyāḥ sarva-marmāṇi sumantraḥ pratyabhāṣata ||2.35.4||

Translation

Then Sumantra, Dasaratha’s charioteer, suddenly shook his head again and again and sighed repeatedly; he clenched palm against palm and ground his teeth. His eyes reddened with anger, his natural complexion fell away, and, overcome by wrath, he sank into ominous distress. Reading the king’s mind, Sumantra spoke—his sharp word-arrows as though shaking Kaikeyi’s heart—using unmatched, thunderbolt-like sentences that seemed to strike all her vital points.

Context

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:

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Dasaratha
• Kaikeyi

FAQs

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

Righteous indignation in service of dharma: Sumantra’s anger is portrayed as arising from perceived adharma against king, prince, and people.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration depicts Sumantra’s physical and emotional reaction before he rebukes Kaikeyi with harsh, piercing words.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Loyalty to the righteous king and moral courage to confront wrongdoing, even when addressing a powerful queen.