Valmiki Ramayana 2.74.15 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 74, Shloka 15

भरतस्य कैकेयी-गर्हा तथा सुरभि-दृष्टान्तः

Bharata’s Reproach of Kaikeyi and the Surabhi Exemplum

Devanagari script

अन्यदा किल धर्मज्ञा सुरभि स्सुरसम्मता।वहमानौ ददर्शोर्व्यां पुत्रौ विगतचेतसौ।।।।

Transliteration

anyadā kila dharmajñā surabhiḥ surasammatā | vahamānau dadarśorvyāṃ putrau vigatacetasau ||

Translation

ஒருமுறை தர்மத்தை அறிந்தும் தேவர்களால் மதிக்கப்படுபவளுமான சுரபி, பூமியில் பாரம் சுமந்து சோர்வால் மயங்கிய தன் இரு புதல்வர்களைக் கண்டாளெனக் கூறுவர்.

Word by Word

• anyadā: at another time
• anyadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• kila: as they say
• kila: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kila (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle indicating hearsay/tradition (अनुश्रुति-निपात)

• dharma-jñā: knowing righteousness
• dharma-jñā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (√jñā धातु + क)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: dharmaṃ jānāti iti (knower of dharma)

• surabhiḥ: Surabhi (divine cow)
• surabhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: surabhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• sura-sammatā: honored by the gods
• sura-sammatā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + sammata (√man धातु + क्त)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: suraiḥ sammatā (approved/respected by gods)

• vahamānau: carrying / bearing
• vahamānau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vah (वह् धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Accusative, Dual; qualifies putrau

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• urvyām: on the earth
• urvyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: urvī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th), Singular

• putrau: two sons
• putrau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Dual

• vigata-cetasau: out of their senses
• vigata-cetasau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vigata (vi + √gam धातु + क्त) + cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual; bahuvrīhi: vigataṃ cetas yayoḥ (whose senses/minds were gone)

Context

It is said that once upon a time Surabhi, the divine cow, highly respected by the gods and conversant with righteous ways, beheld her two sons who fainted due to fatigue while carrying the burden of the ploughs.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Kaikeyi
• Surabhī

FAQs

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

Dharma includes compassion: the narrative turns to an exemplum showing how a mother’s suffering has cosmic resonance.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata introduces a traditional story about Surabhī to illustrate the gravity of causing a mother grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Empathy—using moral exemplars to awaken conscience and restore dharmic awareness.