Shloka 2.88.10
रामशय्यादर्शनम् — Bharata Beholds Rama’s Forest Bed
अश्रद्धेयमिदं लोके न सत्यं प्रतिभाति मा।मुह्यते खलु मे भाव स्स्वप्नोऽयमिति मे मतिः।।।।
aśraddheyam idaṃ loke na satyaṃ pratibhāti mā |
muhyate khalu me bhāvaḥ svapno ’yam iti me matiḥ ||
“In this world this is beyond belief; it does not seem true to me. My mind is indeed bewildered—my thought is that this is like a dream.”
It is unbelievable that such a thing has happened to Rama in this world. It does not seem real to me and looks appears like a dream and my mind is bewildered.
The verse contrasts Satya (truth) with emotional denial: even when truth is painful, dharma requires facing reality rather than escaping it—Bharata’s bewilderment marks the human struggle to accept harsh truth.
After seeing signs of Rāma’s austere resting place and recalling what has happened, Bharata expresses disbelief and dream-like confusion.
Conscience and sincerity: Bharata’s inability to ‘normalize’ the event shows a moral sensitivity that refuses to treat wrongdoing and suffering as ordinary.