Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 72, Shloka 28
भरतस्य मातृसदनगमनं कैकेय्या दारुणवृत्तान्तकथनं च
Bharata in Kaikeyi’s apartments: revelation of Daśaratha’s death and Rāma’s exile
तदिदं ह्यन्यथा भूतं व्यवदीर्णं मनो मम।पितरं यो न पश्यामि नित्यं प्रियहिते रतम्।।2.72.28।।
tad idaṃ hy anyathā bhūtaṃ vyavadīrṇaṃ mano mama |
pitaraṃ yo na paśyāmi nityaṃ priya-hite ratam || 2.72.28 ||
But all this has turned out otherwise; my mind is torn apart—since I no longer see my father, who was ever devoted to what was dear and beneficial to me.
O mother! what ailment caused the king's death before I could return? How fortunate are Rama and others by whom the last rites of my father were performed !
FAQs
The verse highlights the dharmic bond of care between ruler-father and son; the rupture of that protective presence becomes a moral and emotional crisis.
Bharata recognizes that his earlier expectations were wrong and expresses shock and grief at not seeing his father.
Bharata’s filial devotion and sincerity—his grief is rooted in love and gratitude for his father’s constant concern.