Valmiki Ramayana 2.74.25: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 74, Shloka 25

भरतस्य कैकेयी-गर्हा तथा सुरभि-दृष्टान्तः

Bharata’s Reproach of Kaikeyi and the Surabhi Exemplum

Devanagari script

ममकायात्प्रसूतौ हि दुःखितौ भारपीडितौ।यौ दृष्ट्वा परितप्येऽहं नास्ति पुत्रसमः प्रियः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.74.25

Transliteration

mama kāyāt prasūtau hi duḥkhitau bhārapīḍitau | yau dṛṣṭvā paritapye ’haṁ nāsti putrasamaḥ priyaḥ ||

Translation

Nascidos do meu próprio corpo, padecem, esmagados pelo peso. Ao vê-los, ardo em tristeza: nada é tão querido quanto um filho.

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Word by Word

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• kāyāt: from (my) body
• kāyāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन

• prasūtau: (two) born
• prasūtau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√sū (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण/कर्तृवाच्य-भाव (born)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Prayojaka-nipāta (निपात-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• duḥkhitau: anguished (both)
• duḥkhitau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण

• bhāra-pīḍitau: oppressed by burden
• bhāra-pīḍitau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāra-pīḍita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण

• yau: whom (both)
• yau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), द्विवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक/यद्-प्रयोग (relative pronoun)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; ‘having seen’

• paritapye: I grieve intensely
• paritapye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√tap (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

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

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha-nipāta (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• asti: there is
• asti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• putra-samaḥ: equal to a son
• putra-samaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: putra+sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (equal to a son)

• priyaḥ: a beloved (one)
• priyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (प्रियो जनः)

Context

'These bulls were born from my body and they are oppressed by the burden. Having seen their anguish, I am extremely grieved. There is none so dear as a son'.

Characters & Entities

• Surabhi
• Kāmadhenu
• Indra
• sons (as bulls)

FAQs

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

Dharma recognizes the sanctity of familial bonds and the duty of care; the suffering of one’s dependents becomes a moral claim upon the conscience.

What is the narrative situation?

Surabhi intensifies her explanation: the bulls are her own offspring, and their forced labor causes her acute grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vātsalya (parental affection) as a virtue that motivates protection and compassion.