Canto 2: Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa ()Chapter 59: Sumantra Describes the Agony of all Creatures in the CountryText 2.59.18
Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 59: Sumantra Describes the Agony of all Creatures in the Country
Text 2.59.18
नामित्राणां न मित्राणामुदासीनजनस्य च।
अहमार्ततया किंचिद्विशेषमुपलक्षये॥
nāmitrāṇāṁ na mitrāṇām udāsīna-janasya ca
aham ārtatayā kiñcid viśeṣam upalakṣaye
na = not; amitrāṇām na = between enemies; mitrāṇām = friends; udāsīna-janasya = the indifferent; ca = and; aham = I; ārtatayā = due to their distress [on being separated from Rāmacandra]; kiñcit = any; viśeṣam = distinction; upalakṣaye = am able to perceive.
I am not able to perceive any distinction between enemies, friends and the indifferent due to their distress [on being separated from Rāmacandra].
1 Obviously excluding Kaikeyī and Mantharā. (Sumantra did not see them anyway.)
Neither friends nor enemies of a man carried out their respective duties.
This verse can also mean, “I am not able to perceive any distinction between your enemies, [friends and those indifferent to you] due to their distress [on being separated from Rāmacandra].”
[This verse cannot refer to Rāma’s enemies and so on] because there is no question of Rāma having an enemy [in Daśaratha’s kingdom].1