Valmiki Ramayana 2.15.26: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 15, Shloka 26
अभिषेकसज्जा तथा सुमन्त्रस्य प्रेषणम्
Coronation Preparations and Sumantra’s Commission
Spoken by King Daśaratha to SumantraSetting: Ayodhyā (palace/royal residence)
राममानय सूतेति यदस्यभिहितोऽनया ॥२६॥
किमिदं कारणं येन ममाज्ञा प्रतिहन्यते ।
rāmam ānaya sūteti yad asyābhihito ’nayā ||26||
kim idaṃ kāraṇaṃ yena mamājñā pratihanyate |
राजा ने कहा, तुने उससे सुना होगा के राम को लाओ। उसने तुम्हे यह बोला था। अब बता, ऐसा क्या हो गया जो मेरी बात काम नहीं कर रही?
Sandhi Notes
- राममानय = रामम् + आनय
- सूतेति = सूत + इति
- यदस्यभिहितोऽनया = यत् + असि + अभिहितः + अनया
- किमिदं = किम् + इदम्
- ममाज्ञा = मम + आज्ञा
You had been asked by her (Kaikeyi) to bring Rama here. What is the reason the command is disregarded?
The teaching
When authority is divided, the servant must seek clarity without deceit; obstruction of rightful command signals deeper adharma at work.
Duties in tension
- Obedience to king’s direct command vs. compliance with queen’s instruction
- Maintaining palace order vs. transparency about internal obstruction
- Ethical theme
- Conflict-of-authorities / rājāṅtaḥpura-dharma
For your practice
Reflection on speech ethics: do not let fear of power distort truthful reporting; cultivate steadiness under conflicting pressures.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Raudra (fury), with Bhayanaka (fear)
- Mood
- Urgent, irritated, foreboding
Themes
- Dharma
- Satya
- Royal command
- Household tension
- Accountability
The clash of imperatives mirrors the struggle between saṅkalpa (intention) and prārabdha (already-set forces) that appear to obstruct will.
Implicit echo of satya/ṛta: when command is thwarted, the question becomes what hidden truth/order is operating behind appearances.
- Dasharatha and Sumantra
- Command and accountability (summon Rāma) (commanding)
- Kaikeyi and Sumantra
- Queen issuing directive to royal charioteer (authoritative)
- Dasharatha and Kaikeyi
- Husbandwife; competing authority within household (suspicious)
- Dasharatha and Rama
- Fatherson; summoning for royal purpose (urgent)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.12-2.14 (Kaikeyī’s demands and Daśaratha’s distress); Rāmacaritamānasa Ayodhyākāṇḍa (MantharāKaikeyī episode leading to obstruction of abhiṣeka)
Dharmaśāstra discussions on conflicting commands (guru/king/household authority)
Immediate narrative link to 2.15.27 (reiterated order)
Anuṣubh
Commanding
Tīvra (udātta-leading)
FAQs
Accountability in duty: a king’s order is meant to be executed faithfully; obstruction of rightful command signals disorder that must be investigated.
Daśaratha questions why Rāma has not been brought, though Kaikeyī had instructed Sumantra accordingly.
Commitment to satya and procedure—orders and messages must be conveyed and fulfilled without distortion.
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