Shloka 10

भरतस्य दूतसमागमः तथा केकयराजनः अनुज्ञा

Bharata Meets the Messengers; Kekaya King Grants Leave

Devanagari script

आत्मकामा सदा चण्डी क्रोधना प्राज्ञमानिनी।अरोगा चापि मे माता कैकेयी किमुवाच ह।।2.70.10।।

Transliteration

ātmakāmā sadā caṇḍī krodhanā prājñamāninī |

arogā cāpi me mātā kaikeyī kim uvāca ha || 2.70.10 ||

Translation

എപ്പോഴും സ്വേച്ഛാനുസാരിണി, കടുത്ത സ്വഭാവമുള്ള, ക്രോധശീലയായും സ്വന്തം ബുദ്ധിയിൽ അഭിമാനിക്കുന്നതുമായ എന്റെ മാതാവ് കൈകേയി എന്ത് പറഞ്ഞു? അവൾ എങ്കിലും രോഗമില്ലാതെ സുഖമാണോ?

Word by Word

• ātmakāmā: self-willed / intent on her own desires
• ātmakāmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आत्मनि कामः यस्याः/आत्मकामः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective to कैकेयी

• sadā: always
• sadā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय; adverb

• caṇḍī: fierce/irascible
• caṇḍī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caṇḍī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective

• krodhanā: wrathful
• krodhanā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krodhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective

• prājñamāninī: proud of her wisdom
• prājñamāninī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prājña (प्रातिपदिक) + māninī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (प्राज्ञत्वे मानिनी/प्राज्ञं मन्यते); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective

• arogā: healthy
• arogā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aroga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/सम्भावनार्थक निपात

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; genitive singular

• mātā: mother
• mātā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular

• kaikeyī: Kaikeyī
• kaikeyī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular (apposition)

• kim: what
• kim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; interrogative pronoun

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ha: indeed/then (emphatic)
• ha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: स्मरण/वाक्यालङ्कारार्थक निपात; particle

Context

And what about my mother Kaikeyi, ever intent on her own well-being, wrathful, irascible and proud of her intelligence? Is she maintaining sound health?

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Even when aware of a parent’s difficult traits, one maintains basic filial concern and truth-seeking: Bharata asks after his mother’s health and words without abandoning propriety.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata, about to hear the messengers’ news, inquires particularly about his mother Kaikeyī—both her health and what she has said.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Filial responsibility coupled with realism: Bharata neither idealizes nor insults, but acknowledges her nature while still expressing due concern.