Shloka 2.87.3
गुहसंवादः—रामस्य रात्रिवासवर्णनम् (Dialogue with Guha: Account of Rama’s Night Halt)
सुकुमारो महासत्त्वस्सिंहस्कन्धो महाभुजः।पुण्डरीकविशालाक्ष स्तरुणः प्रियदर्शनः।।2.87.2।।प्रत्याश्वस्य मुहूर्तं तु कालं परमदुर्मनाः।पपात सहसा तोत्रैर्ह्यतिविद्ध इव द्विपः।।2.87.3।।
pratyāśvasya muhūrtaṃ tu kālaṃ paramadurmanāḥ |
papāta sahasā totrair hy atividdha iva dvipaḥ ||
Reviving for only a moment, Bharata—his mind overwhelmed with anguish—suddenly collapsed, like an elephant struck hard by a goad.
The delicate, youthful, highly energetic and mightyarmed Bharata of graceful appearance, with shoulders like that of a lion and wideeyed like lotus petals, recovered for a moment and with a mind deeply distressed fell down at once like an elephant smitten by a goad.
The verse highlights how a dhārmic person experiences moral shock when the world turns unjust: Bharata’s collapse reflects the weight of responsibility and the pain of perceived wrongdoing in the royal house.
After learning of events surrounding Rāma’s exile and Daśaratha’s death, Bharata briefly regains composure and then falls again, overcome by grief.
Tender-hearted integrity: Bharata’s sensitivity to righteousness and family honor is so intense that his body gives way under sorrow.