Valmiki Ramayana 2.74.13 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 74, Shloka 13

भरतस्य कैकेयी-गर्हा तथा सुरभि-दृष्टान्तः

Bharata’s Reproach of Kaikeyi and the Surabhi Exemplum

Devanagari script

किं नावबुध्यसे क्रूरे नियतं बन्धुसंश्रयम्।ज्येष्ठं पितृसमं रामं कौसल्यायाऽत्मसम्भवम्।।।।

Transliteration

kiṃ nāvabudhyase krūre niyataṃ bandhusaṃśrayam | jyeṣṭhaṃ pitṛsamaṃ rāmaṃ kausalyāyā ātmasambhavam ||

Translation

હે ક્રૂર સ્ત્રી, શું તું નથી સમજતી કે કૌસલ્યાનો આત્મજ શ્રીરામ જ્યેષ્ઠ છે, સંયમી છે, મારા પિતાસમાન છે અને પોતાના કુળબંધુઓનો નિશ્ચિત આશ્રય છે?

Word by Word

• kim: why?
• kim: Prayojana/Hetu (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; used adverbially (why?)

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• avabudhyase: do you understand/realize
• avabudhyase: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava + √budh (बुध् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd person, Singular; Ātmanepada

• krūre: O cruel one
• krūre: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• niyatam: self-restrained
• niyatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niyata (√yam धातु + क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies rāmaṃ

• bandhu-saṃśrayam: refuge of relatives
• bandhu-saṃśrayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bandhu (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: bandhūnāṃ saṃśrayaḥ (refuge of kin)

• jyeṣṭham: eldest
• jyeṣṭham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jyeṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies rāmaṃ

• pitṛ-samam: equal to his father
• pitṛ-samam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: pitrā samaḥ (equal to father)

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• kausalyāyāḥ: of Kausalya
• kausalyāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kausalyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• ātma-sambhavam: her own-born son
• ātma-sambhavam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + sambhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: ātmanaḥ sambhavaḥ (born of her own self)

Context

O cruel one! why do you not realise that Rama, born of Kausalya, is the eldest son and equal to my father? He is self-restrained and a refuge to his kith and kin.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Kaikeyi
• Rama
• Kausalyā
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma upholds rightful order and protection: the eldest, virtuous heir is portrayed as the stabilizing refuge of family and society.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata argues that Kaikeyi’s scheme ignores Rama’s established status and virtues.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s niyama/self-restraint and his role as protector of relatives (bandhu-saṃśraya).