Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 25
सुमन्त्रस्य कैकेयी-निन्दा
Sumantra’s Reproof of Kaikeyi in the Royal Assembly
ततः स्स वरदः साधुराजानं प्रत्यभाषत।म्रियतां ध्वंसतां वेयं मा कृथास्त्वं महीपते।।2.35.25।।
tataḥ sa varadaḥ sādhu rājānaṁ pratyabhāṣata | mriyatāṁ dhvaṁsatāṁ vā iyaṁ mā kṛthās tvaṁ mahīpate ||2.35.25||
すると、その聖なる恩寵の授与者は王に答えた。「この女は死ぬがよい、あるいは自ら滅びるがよい。だが、王よ、これを決して漏らしてはならぬ。」
That holy man who had granted the boon (to the king) had said, 'Let her die or destroy herself, but do not disclose (the cause of your laughter).
FAQs
A tension between truth and secrecy: the verse portrays an instruction to conceal a cause, raising questions about when silence is chosen over disclosure.
In the recalled episode, the boon-giver responds to the king, permitting a grim outcome for the woman but commanding the king not to reveal the matter.
Authority of ascetic speech and the king’s restraint/obedience to a directive, even when emotionally costly.