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||
அப்போது அந்தப் புனித வரதானி முனிவர் அரசனை நோக்கி உரைத்தார்— “இவள் இறக்கட்டும் அல்லது தானே அழிந்துபோகட்டும்; ஆனால், ஓ மஹீபதே, நீ இதை வெளிப்படுத்தாதே।”
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.