Valmiki Ramayana 2.35.36: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 36

सुमन्त्रस्य कैकेयी-निन्दा

Sumantra’s Reproof of Kaikeyi in the Royal Assembly

Setting: Ayodhya royal assembly (rāja-saṃsad)

Devanagari script

इति सान्त्वैश्च तीक्ष्णैश्च कैकेयीं राजसंसदि ।

सुमन्त्रः क्षोभयामास भूय एव कृताज्जलिः ॥३६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.35.36

Transliteration

iti sāntvaiś ca tīkṣṇaiś ca kaikeyīṃ rāja-saṃsadi |

sumantraḥ kṣobhayām āsa bhūya eva kṛtāñjaliḥ ||36||

Translation

राजा की सभा में सुमंत्र ने कैकेयी को हिला के रख दिया। पहले उसने प्यार से समझाया, फिर काँप के धमकाया। फिर भी उसने हाथ जोड़ के खड़ा हो गया।

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Word by Word

• iti: thus, in this way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (अव्यय), quotative marker
• Role: Adhikarana (Reference/अधिकरण)

• sāntvaiḥ: with gentle words, with conciliatory words
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāntva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)
• Role: Karana (Instrument/करण)

• ca: and, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चयोच्य अव्यय)
• Role: Sambandha (Connection/सम्बन्ध)

• tīkṣṇaiḥ: with sharp words, with harsh words
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)
• Role: Karana (Instrument/करण)

• ca: and, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चयोच्य अव्यय)
• Role: Sambandha (Connection/सम्बन्ध)

• kaikeyīm: Kaikeyi
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (Object/कर्म)

• rāja-saṃsadi: in the presence of the king, in the royal assembly
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja-saṃsad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंल्लिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); compound: rājan + saṃsad
• Role: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• sumantraḥ: Sumantra
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंल्लिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)

• kṣobhayām: agitated, disturbed, made her feel sorry
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣubh (धातु) + ām (Causative suffix)
• Form: Causative (णिच), Imperfect (लङ् लकार), Third Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)

• āsa: was, did
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु - अस्तै)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ् लकार), Third Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन) - augmentative verb
• Role: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)

• bhūyaḥ: again, repeatedly, moreover
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial indeclinable (अव्यय), comparative form
• Role: Guna (Attribute/गुण)

• eva: indeed, certainly, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात अव्यय)
• Role: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)

• kṛtāñjaliḥ: with folded palms, with hands joined in reverence
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंल्लिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); compound: kṛta + añjali
• Role: Guna (Attribute/गुण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

Sandhi Notes

• Line 1: sāntvaiś ca (sāntvaiḥ + ca), tīkṣṇaiś ca (tīkṣṇaiḥ + ca) - visarga sandhi before ca
• kaikeyīṃ (kaikeyīm) - anusvara for nasal. Line 2: kṛtāñjaliḥ (kṛtāñjaliḥ) - ñ from n before j
• bhūya eva - no sandhi change

Context

Sumantra tried with words both gentle and sharp to make Kaikeyi regret. And then stood with folded palms in the presence of the king.

The teaching

When dharma is threatened, counsel may require both gentleness and severity, yet must remain anchored in humility (kṛtāñjali).

Duties in tension

• Respect toward the queen vs duty to prevent adharma harming the kingdom
• Court decorum vs necessity of sharp truth

Ethical theme

Nīti / satya-vākya

For your practice

Practice of right speech: combine compassion with firmness; maintain humility even in confrontation.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Raudra (fury), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Confrontational, urgent, public

Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Courtly conduct

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Kaikeyi
• Dasaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma of counsel and decorum: one may admonish firmly for righteousness, yet maintain respectful conduct in the royal presence.

What is the narrative situation?

After arguing with Kaikeyi in court, Sumantra alternates between persuasion and rebuke, then resumes a posture of respectful supplication.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sumantra’s loyalty and propriety: he speaks for dharma while observing court etiquette.