Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 35

सुमन्त्रस्य कैकेयी-निन्दा

Sumantra’s Reproof of Kaikeyi in the Royal Assembly

Devanagari script

रामे हि यौवराज्यस्थे राजा दशरथो वनम्। प्रवेक्ष्यति महेष्वासः पूर्ववृत्तमनुस्मरन्।।2.35.35।।

Transliteration

rāme hi yauvarājya-sthe rājā daśaratho vanam | pravekṣyati maheṣvāsaḥ pūrva-vṛttam anusmaran ||2.35.35||

Translation

ເມື່ອພຣະຣາມຖືກສະຖາປະນາເປັນຍຸວຣາຊ (ອົງມົງກຸດ) ແລ້ວ ພຣະຣາຊາທະສະຣະຖ ຜູ້ເປັນນັກທະນູຍິງອັນຍິ່ງໃຫຍ່ ຈະເຂົ້າປ່າ ໂດຍລະລຶກຈາຣີດເກົ່າແກ່ວ່າ ເມື່ອຕັ້ງຜູ້ສືບທອດແລ້ວ ຈຶ່ງຖອນຕົນອອກຈາກພາລະ

Word by Word

• रामे: when Rama (is)
• रामे: अधिकरण (Locative absolute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute sense: when Rama is...)

• हि: indeed
• हि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (indeed)

• यौवराज्यस्थे: installed as heir-apparent
• यौवराज्यस्थे: अधिकरण (Locative absolute qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यौवराज्य + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (यौवराज्ये स्थितः); पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; रामे इति सह सति-सप्तमी

• राजा: the king
• राजा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दशरथः: Dasaratha
• दशरथः: कर्ता (Appositional subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; राजा इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रवेक्ष्यति: will enter
• प्रवेक्ष्यति: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + विश् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महेष्वासः: great archer
• महेष्वासः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् + इष्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (महान् इष्वासः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; दशरथः इति विशेषणम्

• पूर्ववृत्तम्: the former custom/precedent
• पूर्ववृत्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व + वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (पूर्वं वृत्तम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अनुस्मरन्: remembering
• अनुस्मरन्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Participial qualifier of subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तरि; दशरथः इति विशेषणम्

Context

If Rama is installed as heir-apparent, king Dasaratha, the great archer will retire to the forest for carrying out austerities following ancient customs.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Dasaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma of life-stages and kingship: after ensuring succession, the king may withdraw for austerity, honoring established tradition without endangering governance.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra argues that Rama’s coronation aligns with tradition and would allow Dasaratha to retire peacefully, not be cast into suffering by forced exile of Rama.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dasaratha’s adherence to tradition and duty—willingness to renounce power properly after succession.