Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 36, Shloka 18

अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः

Daśaratha’s orders for Rama’s escort; Kaikeyi’s fear; the Asamañjasa precedent

Devanagari script

तत्र वृद्धो महामात्रस्सिद्धार्थो नाम नामतः।शुचिर्बहुमतो राज्ञः कैकेयी मिदमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

tatra vṛddho mahāmātraḥ siddhārtho nāma nāmataḥ | śucir bahumato rājñaḥ kaikeyīm idam abravīt ||2.36.18||

Translation

There stood an aged high minister named Siddhārtha, pure in conduct and greatly esteemed by the king; he spoke these words to Kaikeyī.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण/adverb of place)

• वृद्धः: aged
• वृद्धः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• महामात्रः: chief minister
• महामात्रः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (महा + अमात्य/मात्र)

• सिद्धार्थः: Siddhartha (name)
• सिद्धार्थः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समासः (सिद्धः अर्थः यस्य/सिद्धः अर्थः)

• नाम: named
• नाम: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (नामनिर्देशक/quotative particle: "named")

• नामतः: by name
• नामतः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नामतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त; "by name")

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• बहुमतः: favoured
• बहुमतः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुमत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (बहु मतं यस्मिन्/यः) = "much-approved/favoured"

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• कैकेयीम्: Kaikeyi
• कैकेयीम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

An aged minister named Siddhartha who justified his name, highly respected by the king said this to Kaikeyi:

Characters & Entities

• Siddhārtha
• Kaikeyī
• King (unnamed in this verse)

FAQs

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

The verse foregrounds the dharmic role of a pure and respected minister: righteous counsel should come from integrity (śuci) and public trust, especially in matters affecting the royal household and the realm.

What is the narrative situation?

The text introduces an elderly high minister named Siddhārtha, setting the scene for his address to Queen Kaikeyī within the unfolding Ayodhyā court crisis.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Ministerial integrity and credibility—purity of conduct (śuci) and being esteemed for sound judgment—are emphasized as prerequisites for advising in state and family ethics.