Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 74, Shloka 4
भरतस्य कैकेयी-गर्हा तथा सुरभि-दृष्टान्तः
Bharata’s Reproach of Kaikeyi and the Surabhi Exemplum
भ्रूणहत्यामसि प्राप्ता कुलस्यास्य विनाशनात्।कैकेयि नरकं गच्छ मा च भर्तु स्सलोकताम्।।।।
bhrūṇa-hatyām asi prāptā kulasyāsya vināśanāt |
kaikeyi narakaṃ gaccha mā ca bhartuḥ sa-lokatām ||
この王家の滅びを招いたゆえに、カイケーイよ、汝は胎児殺しにも等しい罪を負った。地獄へ赴け、そして夫と同じ吉祥の界に至ることなかれ。
Death for the king and exile for Rama, similar fate for both, have befallen on your account. What possible harm, either the king or the highly virtuous Rama has done to you?
FAQs
It asserts moral accountability: acts that destroy a family’s stability and righteous order are treated as grave adharma, bearing severe consequences.
Bharata denounces Kaikeyi for the chain of events leading to Dasharatha’s death and the destabilization of the dynasty.
Bharata’s uncompromising commitment to righteousness and protection of the dynasty’s moral order, even against his own mother.