Shloka 2.35.4

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 pāṇiṃ viniṣpiṣya dantān kaṭakaṭāpya ca ||2.35.1||

locane kopa-saṃrakte varṇaṃ pūrvocitaṃ jahat | kopābhibhūtaḥ sahasā santāpam aśubhaṃ gataḥ ||2.35.2||

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

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

Translation

Then Sumantra, suddenly shaking his head and sighing again and again, pressed palm against palm and ground his teeth. His eyes, reddened with anger, and overcome by wrath, he fell into ominous grief, losing his usual complexion. Reading Daśaratha’s mind, he answered Kaikeyī with sharp word-arrows—thunderbolt-like, inauspicious, and unmatched—as though striking 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
• Kaikeyi
• Dasaratha

FAQs

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

When dharma is endangered, a loyal servant may speak forcefully to restrain adharma—yet the purpose remains protection of the king, the heir, and the realm.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra, seeing Dasaratha’s suffering and Kaikeyi’s hardness, becomes enraged and prepares to denounce her with piercing words.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sumantra’s loyalty and moral courage: he risks offending the queen to defend righteousness and the king’s welfare.