Shloka 2.74.14
भरतस्य कैकेयी-गर्हा तथा सुरभि-दृष्टान्तः (Bharata’s Reproach of Kaikeyi and the Surabhi Exemplum)
अङगप्रत्यङगजः पुत्रो हृदयाच्चापि जायते।तस्मात्प्रियतमो मातुः प्रिया एव तु बान्धवाः।।।।
aṅgapratyaṅgajaḥ putro hṛdayāc cāpi jāyate | tasmāt priyatamo mātuḥ priyā eva tu bāndhavāḥ ||
A son is born, as it were, from every limb and even from the mother’s heart; therefore, to a mother he is the dearest, while other relatives are dear only in a lesser sense.
A son born from every limb, big or small, and from the heart is the most beloved of all for his mother while the other relatives are only loving ones.
It underscores the sanctity of the mother–child bond; violating or exploiting such bonds is treated as a profound breach of dharma.
Bharata explains why separating a mother from her son is especially cruel, intensifying his condemnation of Kaikeyi’s actions.
Sensitivity to relational dharma—recognizing the depth of a mother’s attachment to her child.