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

Devanagari script

मातृरूपे ममामित्रे नृशंसे राज्यकामुके।न तेऽह मभिभाष्योऽस्मि दुर्वृत्ते पतिघातिनि।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.74.7

Transliteration

mātṛrūpe mamāmitre nṛśaṃse rājyakāmuke |

na te ’ham abhibhāṣyo ’smi durvṛtte patighātini ||

Translation

ମାତୃରୂପରେ ଥିବା ମୋର ଶତ୍ରୁଣୀ—ନିର୍ଦୟା, ରାଜ୍ୟଲୋଭିନୀ, ଦୁର୍ବୃତ୍ତା, ପତିଘାତିନୀ—ମୁଁ ତୋତେ କଥା ମଧ୍ୟ କହିବି ନାହିଁ; ତୋ ସହ ମୁଁ ଭାଷା କରିବି ନାହିଁ।

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Word by Word

• mātṛ-rūpe: O one with a mother's form
• mātṛ-rūpe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; tatpuruṣa: mātṛrūpā (mother-like in appearance)

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th), Singular

• amitre: O enemy
• amitre: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th), Singular

• nṛśaṃse: O cruel one
• nṛśaṃse: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nṛśaṃsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular; used as address

• rājya-kāmuke: O kingdom-craving woman
• rājya-kāmuke: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक) + kāmuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: rājyaṃ kāmayate iti (desirous of kingdom)

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; enclitic

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• abhibhāṣyaḥ: to be spoken to
• abhibhāṣyaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + √bhāṣ (भाष् धातु) + yat (यत्)
• Form: Gerundive/necessitative (यत्-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective with asmi; with na = 'not to be spoken to'

• asmi: am
• asmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• durvṛtte: O wicked-charactered one
• durvṛtte: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur + vṛtta (वृत् धातु + क्त)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular; karmadhāraya: duṣṭaṃ vṛttaṃ yasyāḥ (of bad conduct)

• pati-ghātini: O husband-killer
• pati-ghātini: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक) + ghātinī (√han धातु + ṇini/इनी)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: pateḥ ghātinī (husband-slayer)

Context

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.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha (implied as husband)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes recognizing and rejecting destructive greed and betrayal within the household; moral boundaries may require refusing association with grave wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

In anger and grief, Bharata denounces Kaikeyī publicly, declaring her conduct anti-dharmic and severing speech/relationship.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s integrity and uncompromising stance against injustice, even when the wrongdoer is his own mother.