Valmiki Ramayana 2.78.20: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 78, Shloka 20

अष्टसप्ततितमः सर्गः · Śatrughna’s Fury and Bharata’s Restraint

Mantharā Episode

Setting: Ayodhya palace (inner apartments)Places named: Ayodhya

Devanagari script

तैर्वाक्यैः परुषैर्दुःखैः कैकेयी भृशदुःखिता ।

शत्रुघ्नभयसन्त्रस्ता पुत्रं शरणमागता ॥२०॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.78.20

Transliteration

tair vākyaiḥ paruṣair duḥkhaiḥ kaikeyī bhṛśaduḥkhitā |

śatrughnabhayasantrastā putraṁ śaraṇam āgatā ||20||

Translation

Terluka oleh kata-kata yang keras dan menyakitkan itu, Kaikeyī sangat berdukacita; kerana takut akan Śatrughna, baginda pergi kepada puteranya untuk berlindung.

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Word by Word

• तैः: by those
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम
• Role: Karana (करण)

• वाक्यैः: words, statements
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन
• Role: Karana (करण)

• परुषैः: harsh
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying vākyaiḥ)
• Role: Karana (करण)

• दुःखैः: painful, grievous
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying vākyaiḥ)
• Role: Karana (करण)

• कैकेयी: Kaikeyī
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• भृशदुःखिता: extremely distressed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भृश + दुःखित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (भृशं दुःखिता)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• शत्रुघ्नभयसन्त्रस्ता: terrified due to fear of Shatrughna
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत्रुघ्न + भय + संत्रस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शत्रुघ्नस्य भयेन संत्रस्ता)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• पुत्रम्: son (Bharata)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• शरणम्: for refuge, as protection
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थक-क्रियायाः कर्म (object of motion)
• Role: Gati-karma (गतिकर्म)

• आगता: came, approached
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्गः आ-; कर्तरि-प्रयोग (she having come)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• तैर्वाक्यैः → तैः + वाक्यैः
• परुषैर्दुःखैः → परुषैः + दुःखैः
• शरणमागता → शरणम् + आगता।

Context

Kaikeyi, deeply distressed at those harsh and grievous words was afraid of Satrughna and sought the protection of her son Bharata.

The teaching

Harsh speech can wound yet also awaken remorse; after adharma, one naturally seeks śaraṇa—true refuge, however, must align with dharma.

Duties in tension

• Accountability for wrongdoing vs compassion/forgiveness toward a mother/queen
• Kṣatriya impulse to punish vs dharmic restraint toward women/elders

Ethical theme

Family ethics / consequences of adharma

How it resolves

Seeking protection; conflict deferred to Bharata’s judgment

For your practice

Reflection on the karmic weight of speech and decisions; cultivating humility and seeking rightful refuge (dharma-aligned).

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Bhayanaka (fear)

Mood

Wounded, frightened, contrite

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Ethics
• Fear
• Consequences of wrongdoing
• Family dynamics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Śatrughna
• Bharata

FAQs

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

Actions that violate dharma generate fear and social rupture; refuge is sought not through power but through relationships, revealing the moral cost of harmful choices.

What is the narrative situation?

After bitter reproaches, Kaikeyī fears retaliation from Śatrughna and turns to Bharata for protection.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s implied role as protector and stabilizer of the household—someone to whom even the guilty appeal for safety.