Shloka 2.58.11

अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 58) — Daśaratha Questions Sumantra; Messages from the Forest Threshold

Devanagari script

किमुवाच वचो रामः किमुवाच च लक्ष्मणः।सुमन्त्र वनमासाद्य किमुवाच च मैथिली।।।।

Transliteration

kim uvāca vaco rāmaḥ kim uvāca ca lakṣmaṇaḥ |

sumantra vanam āsādya kim uvāca ca maithilī ||

Translation

“What words did Rāma speak? What did Lakṣmaṇa say? And, O Sumantra, upon reaching the forest, what did Maithilī (Sītā) say?”

Context

Upon reaching the forest, O Sumantra what did Rama, Lakshmana and Sita say?

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sumantra
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Maithilī (Sītā)
• Forest (vana)

FAQs

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

The pursuit of satya (accurate testimony) is treated as a dharmic necessity: Daśaratha seeks the exact words spoken, valuing truth as the basis for understanding and response.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha interrogates Sumantra for a faithful report of Rāma’s, Lakṣmaṇa’s, and Sītā’s statements at the point of entering the forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truth-seeking and attentiveness: Daśaratha wants precise speech-acts, indicating the moral weight of words in the Ramayana.