Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 78, Shloka 20
अष्टसप्ततितमः सर्गः — Śatrughna’s Fury and Bharata’s Restraint
Mantharā Episode
तैर्वाक्यैः परुषैर्दुःखैः कैकेयी भृशदुःखिता।शत्रुघ्नभयसन्त्रस्ता पुत्रं शरणमागता।।।।
tair vākyaiḥ paruṣair duḥkhaiḥ kaikeyī bhṛśaduḥkhitā |
śatrughnabhayasantrastā putraṁ śaraṇam āgatā ||
ସେଇ କଠୋର ଓ ଦୁଃଖଦ ବାକ୍ୟରେ କୈକେୟୀ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ବ୍ୟଥିତ ହେଲା; ଶତ୍ରୁଘ୍ନଙ୍କ ଭୟରେ ସନ୍ତ୍ରସ୍ତ ହୋଇ ଶରଣ ପାଇଁ ପୁତ୍ରଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଗଲା॥
If righteous Rama were not to accuse me of slaying a mother, I would have killed the sinful Kaikeyi of wicked deeds myself.
FAQs
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.
After bitter reproaches, Kaikeyī fears retaliation from Śatrughna and turns to Bharata for protection.
Bharata’s implied role as protector and stabilizer of the household—someone to whom even the guilty appeal for safety.