Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 12
सुमन्त्रस्य कैकेयी-निन्दा
Sumantra’s Reproof of Kaikeyi in the Royal Assembly
नूनं सर्वे गमिष्यामो मार्गं रामनिषेवितम्।त्यक्ताया बान्धवैः सर्वैर्ब्राह्मणैः साधुभिः सदा।।2.35.12।।का प्रीती राज्यलाभेन तव देवि भविष्यति। तादृशं त्वममर्यादं कर्म कर्तुं चिकीर्षसि।।2.35.13।।
nūnaṃ sarve gamiṣyāmo mārgaṃ rāmaniṣevitam | tyaktāyā bāndhavaiḥ sarvair brāhmaṇaiḥ sādhubhiḥ sadā ||2.35.12||
kā prītī rājyalābhena tava devi bhaviṣyati | tādṛśaṃ tvam amaryādaṃ karma kartuṃ cikīrṣasi ||2.35.13||
必定我们众人都将踏上罗摩所行之路。若你永远被一切亲族、婆罗门与诸贤善之人所弃，王位之得又能给你带来何等欢喜，王后啊？你为何要行此逾越名节与礼法之事？
All of us certainly will follow the path pursued by Rama. Abandoned by relatives, brahmins and virtuous men for all times, what pleasure will you derive by your lust for this kingdom? O Kaikeyi, why do you intend to trangress the limits of honour?
FAQs
Dharma is shown as communal alignment with righteousness: society follows the dharmic person (Rāma), and immoral gain yields isolation rather than happiness.
Sumantra tells Kaikeyī that everyone will follow Rāma into exile, and he questions what satisfaction she expects from kingship purchased by dishonour.
Rāma’s moral magnetism (people willingly follow his path), and Sumantra’s ethical clarity about the futility of unjust power.