Shloka 2.74.18

भरतस्य कैकेयी-गर्हा तथा सुरभि-दृष्टान्तः (Bharata’s Reproach of Kaikeyi and the Surabhi Exemplum)

Devanagari script

इन्द्रोऽप्यश्रुनिपातं तं स्वगात्रे पुण्यगन्धिनम्।सुरभिं मन्यते दृष्ट्वा भूयसीं तां सुरेश्वरः।।।।

Transliteration

indro ’py aśrunipātaṃ taṃ svagātre puṇyagandhinam | surabhiṃ manyate dṛṣṭvā bhūyasīṃ tāṃ sureśvaraḥ ||

Translation

Even Indra, lord of the gods, seeing that fall of tears—of sacred fragrance—upon his own body, recognized them as coming from the greatly revered Surabhī.

Context

When Indra, lord of the gods, saw those tears of holy fragrance fallen on his body heunderstood that the tears were shed by the venerated Kamadhenu.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Kaikeyi
• Indra
• Surabhī

FAQs

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

Dharma is signaled and discerned: sacred ‘marks’ (like holy-fragrant tears) indicate a significant moral disturbance deserving attention.

What is the narrative situation?

Indra notices the fragrant tears on his body and infers they belong to the revered Surabhī.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment (viveka): identifying the source and significance of moral distress.