Sumantra

Family: Ayodhyá · Role: minister · First appears: Book I, Canto 7 · The Ministers

In Book I, Sumantra is counted among Daśaratha’s ministers, “Bound in sweet friendship each to each” with Vaśishṭha, Vámadeva, Jayanta, Vijay, Dhrishṭi, Siddhárth, Arthasádhak, Dharmapál and Aśok. In Book I, Canto 8, he tells Daśaratha the prophecy Sanatkumár made about the king’s line; in Canto 11, he summons the holy guides at the king’s request to counsel him about the sacrifice.

In Book II, Kaikeyí sends Sumantra to fetch Ráma, and Daśaratha also orders him to bring his son to the palace. Later, when Ráma is to go into exile, Sumantra is ordered to prepare a force and attendants, then drives Ráma, Sítá and Lakshmaṇ away from Ayodhyá. At the crossing of Gangá, Ráma sends him back rather than letting him share the exile. Sumantra returns to Ayodhyá with Guha and carries Ráma’s message to Daśaratha; as he reports, “I left him there at his behest, / And homeward to Ayodhyá pressed.”

In Book II, Canto 77, Sumantra counsels and comforts Śatrughna. He later serves Bharat, who orders him to summon the army and prepare the chariot for the journey to Ráma. In Book VI, Canto 130, Śatrughna orders Sumantra to bring the chariot and horses into the hermit grove.