Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 74, Shloka 2

भरतस्य कैकेयी-गर्हा तथा सुरभि-दृष्टान्तः

Bharata’s Reproach of Kaikeyi and the Surabhi Exemplum

Devanagari script

राज्याद्भ्रंशस्व कैकेयि नृशंसे दुष्टचारिणि।परित्यक्ता च धर्मेण मा मृतं रुदती भव।।।।

Transliteration

rājyād bhraṁśasva kaikeyi nṛśaṁse duṣṭacāriṇi | parityaktā ca dharmeṇa mā mṛtaṁ rudatī bhava ||

Translation

ໂອ ໄກເກຍີ ຜູ້ໂຫດຮ້າຍ ແລະປະພຶດຊົ່ວ ຂໍໃຫ້ເຈົ້າຕົກຈາກອຳນາດຮາຊະສົມບັດ. ຖືກທຳມະທອດທິ້ງ ເມື່ອຂ້າຕາຍແລ້ວ ຂໍໃຫ້ເຈົ້າຮ້ອງໄຫ້ອາໄລຂ້າ

Word by Word

• राज्यात्: from the kingdom
• राज्यात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-एकवचन (Ablative Sg)

• भ्रंशस्व: be deprived/fall away
• भ्रंशस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रंश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; अर्थः: fall away/be deprived

• कैकेयि: O Kaikeyi
• कैकेयि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-एकवचन (Voc Sg)

• नृशंसे: O cruel one
• नृशंसे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृशंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-एकवचन; विशेषण (कैकेयि)

• दुष्ट-चारिणि: O wicked-doer
• दुष्ट-चारिणि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः: दुष्टं चरति (of wicked conduct)

• परित्यक्ता: abandoned
• परित्यक्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-त्यज् (धातु) → परित्यक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; (you) abandoned

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• धर्मेण: by righteousness/by dharma
• धर्मेण: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-एकवचन (Instr Sg); करण/हेतु (by/according to dharma)

• मा: do not
• मा: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (prohibitive particle)

• मृतम्: dead
• मृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृ (धातु) → मृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle) used predicatively; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; here: ‘(me) dead’ (object of thinking/occasion)

• रुदती: weeping
• रुदती: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद् (धातु) → रुदत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present Active Participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; (being) weeping

• भव: be
• भव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

O cruel Kaikeyi of wicked conduct, you may be deprived of the kingdom. Abandoned by righteousness, you shall be weeping for me after my death.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyi
• Dharma

FAQs

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

The verse frames adharma as self-punishing: when one violates righteousness, one becomes 'abandoned by dharma'—losing legitimacy, protection, and inner support, leading ultimately to remorse.

What is the narrative situation?

In the aftermath of Rama’s exile decision, Kaikeyi is reproached bitterly; the speaker foresees that her wrongful act will bring downfall and sorrow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implicit virtue is dharma as moral order and legitimacy: true authority depends on righteousness, and its loss results in disgrace and grief.