Sumati

Sumati is the second of Sagara’s two queens, described as exceptionally beautiful and as the sister of Garuda, king of the birds. Her brief role in the account of Sagara’s lineage centers on her appeal to a sage and the unusual birth that follows.

Identity and Background

The narrative introduces Sumati as Sagara’s younger consort, in contrast with Keshini, the elder queen. Its description of Sumati’s beauty gives her a distinct place in the royal household, while her kinship with Garuda connects her to a powerful figure beyond the human royal line.

Petition and Extraordinary Birth

Sumati approaches an illustrious sage in the context of a question about which queen will bear which kind of heir. The account thus places her among the claimants to a future role in Sagara’s lineage, though the supplied passage does not specify the terms of the boon she seeks. Her outcome is strikingly different from an ordinary birth: she bears a gourd, whose rind is then split open.

Narrative Role

Through the contrast between the two queens and their different births, Sumati’s episode presents royal succession as dependent on extraordinary, sage-mediated events. The gourd makes her contribution to Sagara’s line memorable, while the available account leaves the subsequent fate of its contents unstated.