Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 30

सुमन्त्रस्य कैकेयी-निन्दा

Sumantra’s Reproof of Kaikeyi in the Royal Assembly

Devanagari script

मा त्वं प्रोत्साहिता पापैर्देवराजसमप्रभम्। भर्तारं लोकभर्तारमसद्धर्ममुपादधाः।।2.35.30।।

Transliteration

mā tvaṁ protsāhitā pāpair devarāja-sama-prabham | bhartāraṁ loka-bhartāram asad-dharmam upādadhāḥ ||2.35.30||

Translation

悪しき者にそそのかされて、天帝にも比すべき光を放ち世を護るあなたの夫に、アダルマ（不義）を帰してはなりません。

Word by Word

• मा: do not
• मा: निषेध (Prohibition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेधार्थक निपात (prohibitive particle)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रोत्साहिता: incited/encouraged
• प्रोत्साहिता: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + उत् + साह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; त्वम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पापैः: by the wicked (people)
• पापैः: करण (Karana/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; करण (instrument/agentive means)

• देवराजसमप्रभम्: having brilliance like Indra
• देवराजसमप्रभम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवराज + सम + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (देवराजेन समा प्रभा यस्य); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; भर्तारम् इति विशेषणम्

• भर्तारम्: husband
• भर्तारम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• लोकभर्तारम्: protector of the world
• लोकभर्तारम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य भर्ता); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; भर्तारम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• असद्धर्मम्: unrighteousness
• असद्धर्मम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (असन् धर्मः); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उपादधाः: attribute/undertake
• उपादधाः: क्रिया (Prohibitive imperative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + आ + धा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative) निषेधार्थे (prohibitive with mā), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Instigated by the wicked, do not attribute unrighteousness to your husband who is equal to Indra in brilliance and is the sustainer of this world.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyi
• Dasaratha (husband; loka-bhartā)
• Indra (Devaraja; comparison)

FAQs

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

Guarding truth and justice in judgment: one must not falsely accuse a righteous ruler of adharma due to malicious influence.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra warns Kaikeyi not to let wicked advisers push her into condemning Dasaratha’s righteousness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rājadharma—Dasaratha is praised as a world-protector; the virtue highlighted is righteous kingship and deserved trust.