Valmiki Ramayana 2.35.36 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 36

सुमन्त्रस्य कैकेयी-निन्दा

Sumantra’s Reproof of Kaikeyi in the Royal Assembly

Devanagari script

इति सान्त्वैश्च तीक्ष्णैश्च कैकेयीं राजसंसदि। सुमन्त्रः क्षोभयामास भूय एव कृताञ्जलिः।।2.35.36।।

Transliteration

iti sāntvaiś ca tīkṣṇaiś ca kaikeyīṃ rāja-saṃsadi | sumantraḥ kṣobhayām āsa bhūya eva kṛtāñjaliḥ ||2.35.36||

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ രാജസഭയിൽ സുമന്ത്രൻ കൈകേയിയെ സാന്ത്വനവചനങ്ങളാലും കഠിനവചനങ്ങളാലും കുലുക്കാൻ ശ്രമിച്ചു; പിന്നെയും കൈകൂപ്പി നിന്നു.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta/quotative indeclinable (इति-निपात)

• sāntvaiḥ: with conciliatory words
• sāntvaiḥ: Karana (करण/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāntva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• tīkṣṇaiḥ: with harsh (words)
• tīkṣṇaiḥ: Karana (करण/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); used substantively = 'harsh (words)'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• kaikeyīm: Kaikeyi
• kaikeyīm: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• rāja-saṃsadi: in the royal assembly
• rāja-saṃsadi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): rājaṇaḥ saṃsadi; Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) 'saṃsad', Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• sumantraḥ: Sumantra
• sumantraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṣobhayāmāsa: agitated / provoked
• kṣobhayāmāsa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣubh (धातु)
• Form: Causative (णिच्) of √kṣubh; Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhūyaḥ: again, further
• bhūyaḥ: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyas (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारणार्थक निपात)

• kṛta-añjaliḥ: with hands folded
• kṛta-añjaliḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृ धातु-कृदन्त) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय/उपपद-समास sense): kṛtaḥ añjaliḥ yena saḥ; Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

Sumantra tried with words both gentle and sharp to make Kaikeyi regret. And then stood with folded palms in the presence of the king.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Kaikeyi
• Dasaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma of counsel and decorum: one may admonish firmly for righteousness, yet maintain respectful conduct in the royal presence.

What is the narrative situation?

After arguing with Kaikeyi in court, Sumantra alternates between persuasion and rebuke, then resumes a posture of respectful supplication.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sumantra’s loyalty and propriety: he speaks for dharma while observing court etiquette.