Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 1
सुमन्त्रस्य कैकेयी-निन्दा
Sumantra’s Reproof of Kaikeyi in the Royal Assembly
ततो निर्धूय सहसा शिरो निश्श्वस्य चासकृत्। पाणौ पाणिं विनिष्पिष्य दन्तान् कटकटाप्य च ।।2.35.1।।लोचने कोपसंरक्ते वर्णं पूर्वोचितं जहत्। कोपाभिभूतस्सहसा सन्तापमशुभं गतः।।2.35.2।।मनः समीक्षमाणश्च सूतो दशरथस्य सः। कम्पयन्निव कैकेय्या हृदयं वाक्छरैश्शितैः ।।2.35.3।।वाक्यवज्रैरनुपमैर्निर्भिन्दन्निव चाशुभैः। कैकेय्या स्सर्वमर्माणि सुमन्त्रः प्रत्यभाषत।।2.35.4।।
tato nirdhūya sahasā śiro niḥśvasya cāsakṛt | pāṇau pāṇiṃ viniṣpiṣya dantān kaṭakaṭāpya ca ||2.35.1||
locane kopasaṃrakte varṇaṃ pūrvocitaṃ jahat | kopābhibhūtaḥ sahasā santāpam aśubhaṃ gataḥ ||2.35.2||
manaḥ samīkṣamāṇaś ca sūto daśarathasya saḥ | kampayann iva kaikeyyā hṛdayaṃ vākcharaiḥ śitaiḥ ||2.35.3||
vākyavajrair anupamair nirbhindann iva cāśubhaiḥ | kaikeyyāḥ sarvamarmāṇi sumantraḥ pratyabhāṣata ||2.35.4||
そのときスーマントラは、たちまち幾度も首を振り、たびたび嘆息し、掌を掌に強く押し当て、歯をきしらせた。怒りに染まって眼は赤くなり、憤怒に圧されて、ただちに不吉な苦悶に沈んだ。ダシャラタの御心を読み取った御者は、カイケーイーに言い返した――その言葉は鋭い矢のごとく彼女の心を揺さぶり、比類なき金剛の雷のごとき句は、彼女の急所を打った。
Overcome with anger, charioteer Sumantra started shaking his head and sighing off and on, crushing his palms and grinding his teeth. His eyes turned red due to anger. Overcome with a sudden, ominous grief, the complexion of his face turned red. Sumantra understood the mind of Dasaratha. With sharp arrows of words as if piercing the heart of Kaikeyi, he denounced her in exceptionally harsh words which, like thunderbolt, cut her to the quick:
FAQs
It frames moral protest: when maryādā is violated, righteous indignation arises, and speech becomes a tool to defend dharma and expose wrongdoing.
Sumantra, seeing Daśaratha’s inner suffering, becomes enraged and prepares to denounce Kaikeyī with forceful words.
Sumantra’s loyalty and moral courage—he dares to confront royal wrongdoing despite his subordinate status.