Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 35, Shloka 24

सुमन्त्रस्य कैकेयी-निन्दा

Sumantra’s Reproof of Kaikeyi in the Royal Assembly

Devanagari script

प्रियया च तथोक्त स्सन् केकयः पृथिवीपतिः।तस्मै तं वरदायार्थं कथयामास तत्त्वतः।।2.35.24।।

Transliteration

priyayā ca tathoktaḥ san kekayaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ | tasmai taṁ varadāyārthaṁ kathayāmāsa tattvataḥ ||2.35.24||

Translation

被心爱王后如此询问，羯迦耶王——大地之主——便如实向她详述了那位赐愿者所赐恩典之事的全部经过。

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तर (then)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वरदः: the boon-giver
• वरदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (vara + da)

• साधुः: the holy man
• साधुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रत्यभाषत: replied
• प्रत्यभाषत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• म्रियताम्: let (her) die
• म्रियताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; आज्ञार्थे (injunctive sense ‘let her die’)

• ध्वंसताम्: let (her) perish
• ध्वंसताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्वंस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; ‘let (her) be destroyed’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प (or)

• इयम्: this woman/she
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मा: do not
• मा: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (prohibitive particle, used with लोट्/लङ्)

• कृथाः: do (it)/tell (it)
• कृथाः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महीपते: O king
• महीपते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (mahīyāḥ patiḥ)

Context

Hearing the words of his beloved, king of Kekaya related the entire matter, as ithappened, concerning the conferor of boons.

Characters & Entities

• Kekaya (king of Kekaya)

FAQs

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

Truthfulness (satya) in recounting events: the king narrates the matter 'as it really happened,' highlighting integrity in speech.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra recalls an earlier Kekaya episode: prompted by his beloved, the Kekaya king explains the true circumstances involving a boon-giver.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya (truthful narration) and transparency in explaining a morally significant event.