Valmiki Ramayana 2.74.7: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 74, Shloka 7
भरतस्य कैकेयी-गर्हा तथा सुरभि-दृष्टान्तः
Bharata’s Reproach of Kaikeyi and the Surabhi Exemplum
मातृरूपे ममामित्रे नृशंसे राज्यकामुके ।
न तेऽह मभिभाष्योऽस्मि दुर्वृत्ते पतिघातिनि ॥७॥
mātṛrūpe mamāmitre nṛśaṃse rājyakāmuke |
na te ’ham abhibhāṣyo ’smi durvṛtte patighātini ||7||
母の姿をまとった我が敵よ。残忍で王国を貪り、行いは卑しく、夫を殺めた女よ――私はもはやおまえに言葉をかけぬ。
O cruel woman, O woman of vicious character! you are an enemy assuming a mother's form, lustful for kingdom. You are a murderess (of your husband) and I shall never speak to you.
FAQs
Dharma includes recognizing and rejecting destructive greed and betrayal within the household; moral boundaries may require refusing association with grave wrongdoing.
In anger and grief, Bharata denounces Kaikeyī publicly, declaring her conduct anti-dharmic and severing speech/relationship.
Bharata’s integrity and uncompromising stance against injustice, even when the wrongdoer is his own mother.
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