Valmiki Ramayana 2.72.14: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 72, Shloka 14

भरतस्य मातृसदनगमनं कैकेय्या दारुणवृत्तान्तकथनं च

Bharata in Kaikeyi’s apartments: revelation of Daśaratha’s death and Rāma’s exile

Devanagari script

तं प्रत्युवाच कैकेयी प्रियवद्घोरमप्रियम् ।

अजानन्तं प्रजानन्ती राज्यलोभेन मोहिता ॥१४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.72.14

Transliteration

taṃ pratyuvāca kaikeyī priyavad ghoram apriyam |

ajānantam prajānantī rājyalobhena mohitā ||14||

Translation

Da erwiderte Kaikeyī ihm mit schrecklicher, unerwünschter Kunde, als spräche sie lieblich; sie, die die Wahrheit kannte, redete zu Bharata, der sie nicht kannte, betört von Gier nach der Königsherrschaft.

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Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीयाविभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied / spoke to
• प्रत्युवाच: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति- वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• कैकेयी: Kaikeyi
• कैकेयी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमाविभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• प्रियवत्: as if pleasantly
• प्रियवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रियवत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial use meaning 'as if pleasing')

• घोरम्: dreadful
• घोरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीयाविभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); विशेषण of 'अप्रियम्'

• अप्रियम्: unpleasant (news)
• अप्रियम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीयाविभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• अजानन्तम्: not knowing
• अजानन्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle) with negation अ-, द्वितीयाविभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); qualifies 'तम्'

• प्रजानन्ती: knowing (well)
• प्रजानन्ती: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र- ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle), प्रथमाविभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); qualifies 'कैकेयी'

• राज्यलोभेन: due to greed for the kingdom
• राज्यलोभेन: हेतु/करण (Cause/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य + लोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीयाविभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); समास: राज्यस्य लोभः (greed for kingdom)

• मोहिता: deluded / infatuated
• मोहिता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle), प्रथमाविभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); predicate adjective of 'कैकेयी'

Context

In spite of knowing everything, Kaikeyi actuated by greed for the kingdom, broke the unpleasant and dreadful news as if it were pleasing to Bharata, who was ignorant of what had transpired.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Bharata
• Rājya (kingdom/sovereignty)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse warns that abandoning Satya and Dharma through rājya-lobha (political greed) corrupts speech—making even truth sound manipulative.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī prepares to disclose catastrophic news to Bharata, who is unaware of the events in Ayodhyā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast (through negation), it highlights the danger of greed and delusion as anti-virtues that distort moral judgment.