Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 27
सुमन्त्रस्य कैकेयी-निन्दा
Sumantra’s Reproof of Kaikeyi in the Royal Assembly
तथा त्वमपि राजानं दुर्जनाचरिते पथि। असद्ग्राहमिमं मोहात्कुरुषे पापदर्शिनि।।2.35.27।।
tathā tvam api rājānaṁ durjanācarite pathi | asadgrāham imaṁ mohāt kuruṣe pāpadarśini ||2.35.27||
Demikian pula engkau, wahai perempuan berhati jahat; karena delusi engkau berpegang pada tuntutan yang keliru ini, dan mendorong raja ke jalan yang ditempuh orang-orang durjana.
O evil-minded one you, too, are following the path of wickedness, forcing the king infatuated (with you) to act unrighteously.
FAQs
Avoiding adharma through coercion: forcing a ruler into unrighteous action is condemned as a wicked path.
Sumantra directly rebukes Kaikeyi for her stubborn demand that drives Dasaratha toward an unethical course.
Moral discernment (viveka) is urged by contrast—Kaikeyi is criticized for acting under delusion (moha).