Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.26: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 26
गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्
Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs
Spoken by Rama to SumantraSetting: Ayodhyā
यद्यथा स महाराजो नालीकमधिगच्छति ।
न च ताम्यति दुःखेन सुमन्त्र कुरु तत्तथा ॥२६॥
yad yathā sa mahārājo nālīkam adhigacchati |
na ca tāmyati duḥkhena sumantra kuru tat tathā ||26||
สุมันตระเอ๋ย จงกระทำให้เป็นเช่นนั้นเถิด เพื่อให้มหาราชไม่ตกสู่ความสิ้นหวัง และไม่เหี่ยวเฉาด้วยความโศก
Sandhi Notes
- nālīkamadhigacchati = na + alīkam + adhigacchati
Sumantra! do things exactly in the manner the great king desires so that he does not feel sad or disappointed.
The teaching
Even when duty is harsh, one must act to minimize suffering of elders through timely counsel and care.
Duties in tension
- Truthful execution of exile order
- Duty to protect father/king from emotional collapse
- Ethical theme
- Pitṛdharma & karuṇā-dharma
- How it resolves
- Compassionate mediation (āśvāsa while upholding command)
For your practice
Sevā to parents/elders as spiritual practice; speaking and acting to reduce another’s grief while remaining truthful.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)
- Mood
- Anxious-care, gentle urgency, protective
Themes
- Dharma
- Compassion
- Filial duty
- Ethics
- Itihasa
Seeing grief as a modification of mind to be soothed through right counsel; steadiness (sthiti) as virtue.
Bṛhadāraṇyaka-like emphasis on inner composure; counsel as a means to restore prajñā.
- Rama and Sumantra
- Prince directing royal charioteer/minister (concerned-commanding)
- Sumantra and Dasharatha
- Minister/attendant serving king (protective loyalty (requested))
- Rama and Dasharatha
- Son seeking father’s emotional welfare (tender concern)
VR 2.60-2.63 (Daśaratha’s grief intensifies); VR 2.20 (Rāma’s consolatory stance); Rāmacaritamānasa Ayodhyākāṇḍa (Daśaratha’s lament and counsel motifs)
Didactic counsel traditions in Itihāsa
Sumantra as messenger between Rāma and Daśaratha throughout Ayodhyākāṇḍa
Anuṣṭup
Solemn
Komala-gāndhāra shading for karuṇā; slow tempo
FAQs
Dharma includes compassionate conduct: one should act to reduce the suffering of elders and superiors, especially a father-king in distress.
Rāma is guiding Sumantra on how to manage Daśaratha’s emotional state amid the exile crisis.
Empathy and responsibility in service—acting with sensitivity to another’s grief.
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