Valmiki Ramayana 2.74.33: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 74, Shloka 33
भरतस्य कैकेयी-गर्हा तथा सुरभि-दृष्टान्तः
Bharata’s Reproach of Kaikeyi and the Surabhi Exemplum
सा त्वमग्निं प्रविश वा स्वयं वा दण्डकान्विश ।
रज्जुं बधान वा कण्ठे न हि तेऽन्यत्परायणम् ॥३३॥
sā tvam agniṃ praviśa vā svayaṃ vā daṇḍakān viśa |
rajjuṃ badhāna vā kaṇṭhe na hi te ’nyat parāyaṇam ||33||
Tu — entra no fogo, ou vai tu mesma para o deserto de Dandaka, ou amarra uma corda ao redor do teu pescoço; pois para ti não resta outro refúgio.
Jump into the fire or go to Dandaka forest or hang yourself. There is no other recourse for you.
FAQs
The verse reflects the perceived gravity of adharma: Bharata treats Kaikeyi’s act as so destructive that only extreme self-removal or penance seems adequate—highlighting the seriousness of moral transgression.
In anger and grief, Bharata urges Kaikeyi toward extreme options, expressing that she has forfeited ordinary moral standing and social refuge.
Zeal for justice (though expressed harshly): Bharata’s intolerance of adharma and his insistence that wrongdoing must not be normalized.
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