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| Sumantra | |
|---|---|
 Sumantra trying to persuade Rama | |
| Other names | Arya Sumantra, Sumant |
| Texts | Ramayana |
Sumantra is a character in Hindu epic Ramayana. He served as the Prime Minister of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya and later his son Lord Rama. He played an important role in the epic.
Sumantra name means “Good Advise”. He was given a title of “Arya Sumantra” where Arya means “Honourable” and his another name Sumant means friend.
Sumantra served as the Prime Minister of Dasharatha and is described as the King’s closest ally and best friend having a place in his family matters too. He assisted Dasharatha (then Nemi) in a war against Shambharasura where he got his name “Dasharatha” and gave boon promise to Kaikeyi. He was also the charioteer of the King. He assisted Dasharatha and Acharya Vasishtha in marriage of Rama and Sita in Mithila.
Sumantra openly supported Dasharatha for declaring Rama as his heir and organised the coronation ceremony. He assisted Dasharatha to the Kopabhavana to meet Kaikeyi and waited outside the room for the rest of the time with Manthara. He brought Rama to the room on orders of Kaikeyi from his coronation. He consoled Dasharatha for the rest of his days and was always present along with him. He critised Kaikeyi and openly opposed her. He also requested Dasharatha to send her back to Kaikeya forever just like her father Ashvapati did to her mother for a similar act.
Sumantra took Rama, Sita and Lakshmana to the forest on his chariot on Dasharatha’s orders and also was ordered by Dasharatha to try to persuade them to return back all along the way and bring them back. He tried his best but they didn’t returned along with him. He met Nishadaraj Guha and then returned back to Ayodhya to give the unlucky news. It was when Dasharatha left the world. Later, after his old friend and ruler’s death, Sumantra on orders of Guru Vasishtha sent men to bring back Bharata and Shatrughna back from Kaikeya. He was present during Rama and Bharata’s Milaap and later managed the kingdom crisis for next fourteen years.
Sumantra was still the Prime Minister after fourteen years and witnessed Sita’s exile, Rama’s Ashvamedha Yajna, Luv-Kusha’s war against Rama and later Sita’s refuge in the arms of Goddess Bhūmi.
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