Valmiki Ramayana 2.74.20: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 74, Shloka 20

भरतस्य कैकेयी-गर्हा तथा सुरभि-दृष्टान्तः

Bharata’s Reproach of Kaikeyi and the Surabhi Exemplum

Setting: Ākāśa (celestial realm)Places named: Svarga (implied)

Devanagari script

तां दृष्ट्वा शोकसन्तप्तां वज्रपाणिर्यशस्विनीम् ।

इन्द्रः प्राञ्जलिरुद्विग्न स्सुरराजोऽब्रवीद्वचः ॥२०॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.74.20

Transliteration

tāṁ dṛṣṭvā śokasantaptāṁ vajrapāṇir yaśasvinīm |

indraḥ prāñjalir udvignaḥ surarājo ’bravīd vacaḥ ||20||

Translation

इंद्र ने देखा कि सुरभि बहुत दुखी है। इंद्र देवताओं का राजा है और उसके हाथ में वज्र है। उसने हाथ जोड़े और डरा हुआ था। उसने बात की।

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Word by Word

• ताम्: her
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययवत्
• Role: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)

• शोकसन्तप्ताम्: consumed by grief
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक-सन्तप्त (प्रातिपदिक; सन्तप्त = कृदन्त from √तप् with सम्-)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसदृशः (शोकेन सन्तप्ता); विशेषणम्
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• वज्रपाणिः: the thunderbolt-wielder
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र-पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (वज्रः पाणौ यस्य) — epithet of Indra
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

• यशस्विनीम्: renowned
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यशस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ताम्/सुरभिम्)
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)

• प्राञ्जलिः: with joined palms
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (hands joined)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)

• उद्विग्नः: alarmed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्विग्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √विज्/√विग् with उद्-)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)

• सुरराजः: king of the gods
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सुराणां राजा)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• अब्रवीत्: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)

• वचः: words/speech
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

Sandhi Notes

• सुरराजोऽब्रवीत् = सुरराजः + अब्रवीत्

Context

The king of the gods, Indra, wielder of thunderbolt, saw the renowned Kamadhenu consumed with grief. Alarmed, he said to her with palms joined in reverence:

The teaching

Even the mighty should approach the afflicted with humility; reverence and inquiry are dharmic preliminaries to aid.

Ethical theme

Rāja-dharma (compassionate governance)

Devotion and practice

Models añjali-bhāva—humble approach to the sacred and suffering; useful for cultivating bhakti and karuṇā.

Form of praise

Vandana (gesture-based reverence)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Solemn, urgent, devout

Themes

• Dharma
• Compassion
• Divine concern
• Ethics
• Grief

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Surabhi
• Kāmadhenu
• Vajra (thunderbolt)

FAQs

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

Respect for suffering and the duty to inquire compassionately: even the powerful (Indra) responds with humility (folded hands) before grief.

What is the narrative situation?

A moral exemplum is introduced: Indra notices Surabhi/Kāmadhenu grieving and approaches her with reverence to learn the cause.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Indra’s humility and empathetic vigilance—power is shown as accountable to dharma through compassion.