Valmiki Ramayana 2.35.25: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 25

सुमन्त्रस्य कैकेयी-निन्दा

Sumantra’s Reproof of Kaikeyi in the Royal Assembly

Devanagari script

ततः स्स वरदः साधुराजानं प्रत्यभाषत।म्रियतां ध्वंसतां वेयं मा कृथास्त्वं महीपते।।2.35.25।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.35.25

Transliteration

tataḥ sa varadaḥ sādhu rājānaṁ pratyabhāṣata | mriyatāṁ dhvaṁsatāṁ vā iyaṁ mā kṛthās tvaṁ mahīpate ||2.35.25||

Translation

Entonces el santo dador de dones respondió al rey: «Que esta mujer muera, o que se destruya por sí misma; pero tú, oh rey, no lo reveles».

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Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, temporal adverb

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• varadaḥ: boon-giver
• varadaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• sādhuḥ: holy man
• sādhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (apposition)

• rājānam: the king
• rājānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative Singular)

• pratyabhāṣata: replied
• pratyabhāṣata: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन

• mriyatām: let (her) die
• mriyatām: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √mṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन (3rd singular, passive/impersonal sense): ‘let (her) die’

• dhvaṃsatām: let (her) be destroyed
• dhvaṃsatām: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhvaṃs (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन (3rd singular): ‘let (her) be destroyed’

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय

• iyam: this woman/she
• iyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• mā: do not
• mā: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (prohibitive particle used with imperative)

• kṛthāḥ: do (not)
• kṛthāḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष एकवचन (2nd singular): ‘do/make’ (here: ‘do not do (this)’/‘do not act’)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuzmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा एकवचन

• mahīpate: O king
• mahīpate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahīpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (mahī ‘earth’ + pati ‘lord’); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन (Vocative Singular)

Context

That holy man who had granted the boon (to the king) had said, 'Let her die or destroy herself, but do not disclose (the cause of your laughter).

Characters & Entities

• Varada (boon-giver sage)
• king of Kekaya

FAQs

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

A tension between truth and secrecy: the verse portrays an instruction to conceal a cause, raising questions about when silence is chosen over disclosure.

What is the narrative situation?

In the recalled episode, the boon-giver responds to the king, permitting a grim outcome for the woman but commanding the king not to reveal the matter.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Authority of ascetic speech and the king’s restraint/obedience to a directive, even when emotionally costly.