Valmiki Ramayana 2.35.9: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 9

सुमन्त्रस्य कैकेयी-निन्दा

Sumantra’s Reproof of Kaikeyi in the Royal Assembly

Spoken by Dasharatha to KaikeyiSetting: Ayodhyā (succession context)Places named: Ikṣvāku-kula (dynastic realm)

Devanagari script

यथावयो हि राज्यानि प्राप्नुवन्ति नृपक्षये ।

इक्ष्वाकुकुलनाथेऽस्मिं स्तल्लोपयितुमिच्छसि ॥९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.35.9

Transliteration

yathāvayo hi rājyāni prāpnuvanti nṛpakṣaye |

ikṣvākukulanāthe 'smiṃs tallopayitum icchasi ||9||

Translation

جب راجا کا انتقال ہو جاتا ہے تو شہزادے عمر کی بڑائی کے مطابق راج پاتے ہیں۔ پھر اِکشواکو کُل کے ناتھ رام کے معاملے میں تو اس قائم شدہ ریت کو الٹ دینا کیوں چاہتی ہے؟

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• राजा: king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• भवतु: let (him) be
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ/benedictive imperative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• ते: your
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• पुत्रः: son
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• भरतः: Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• शास्तु: let (him) rule
• Type: Verb
• Root: शास् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• मेदिनीम्: the earth
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेदिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• वयम्: we
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• तत्र: there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• गमिष्यामः: we will go
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (भविष्यत्/future), उत्तम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• रामः: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• यत्र: where
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/देशवाचक अव्यय (where)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• गमिष्यति: will go
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (future), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• भरतश्शास्तु → भरतः + शास्तु

Context

After the death of the king, the princes will obtain the kingdom according to seniority. Why do you want to break this tradition in the case of Rama, the lord of the Ikshvaku dynasty?

The teaching

Customary succession by seniority safeguards political dharma; subverting it invites disorder and injustice.

Duties in tension

• Maternal partiality for Bharata vs rājadharma of rightful succession to Rāma
• Personal boon-claim vs ācāra (established custom)

Ethical theme

Rājadharma

For your practice

Reflection on maryādā (right order) and fairness over favoritism.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Raudra (fury), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Reproachful, legalistic, urgent

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Rajadharma
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Succession
• Tradition

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Ikṣvāku (dynasty)

FAQs

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

It upholds rāja-dharma and social order: inheritance of kingship should follow established lawful custom (here, seniority), and breaking it is portrayed as adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

In Ayodhyā, amid the conflict over Rāma’s consecration and Kaikeyī’s demands, the king appeals to dynastic precedent and the normal rule of succession.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s concern for maryādā (institutional propriety) and the legitimacy of rule—he frames the issue as fidelity to tradition rather than personal preference.