Shloka 2.74.17
भरतस्य कैकेयी-गर्हा तथा सुरभि-दृष्टान्तः (Bharata’s Reproach of Kaikeyi and the Surabhi Exemplum)
अधस्ताद्व्रजतस्तस्याः सुरराज्ञो महात्मनः।बिन्दवः पतिता गात्रे सूक्ष्मा स्सुरभिगन्धिनः।।।।
adhastād vrajatas tasyāḥ surarājño mahātmanaḥ | bindavaḥ patitā gātre sūkṣmāḥ surabhigandhinaḥ ||
As she moved above the great king of the gods, fine drops—fragrant with Surabhī’s scent—fell downward upon his body.
The fine drops of her fragnant tears trickled down the body of the great king of the gods (Indra).
Suffering—especially unjust suffering—echoes into the divine realm; dharma is not merely social but cosmic, drawing the attention of higher powers.
Surabhī’s tears fall upon Indra, setting up Indra’s recognition and response.
The gods’ attentiveness to dharmic imbalance—signals of distress are not ignored.