Valmiki Ramayana 2.35.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 16
सुमन्त्रस्य कैकेयी-निन्दा
Sumantra’s Reproof of Kaikeyi in the Royal Assembly
आम्रं छित्वा कुठारेण निम्बं परिचरेत्तु यः ।
यश्चैनं पयसा सिञ्चेन्नैवास्य मधुरो भवेत् ॥१६॥
āmraṃ chitvā kuṭhāreṇa nimbaṃ paricarettu yaḥ |
yaś cainaṃ payasā siñcet naivāsya madhuro bhavet ||16||
अगर कोई आम का पेड़ काट के उसकी जगह नीम लगा दे। चाहे वो उसे दूध से पानी दे, फिर भी वो मीठा नहीं होगा। नीम तो नीम ही रहता है।
By axing a mango tree and growing a nimba in its place and sprinkling it with milk one does not get sweet fruit.
FAQs
Outer acts cannot transform inner nature without genuine moral reform; dharma is rooted in character (svabhāva), not in superficial displays or pampering.
Sumantra uses a sharp proverb to argue that Kaikeyi’s conduct reveals an ingrained disposition that cannot be ‘sweetened’ by external measures.
Discernment (viveka): Sumantra distinguishes between appearance and inherent moral quality.
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