Shloka 32

भरतस्य कैकेयी-गर्हा तथा सुरभि-दृष्टान्तः

Bharata’s Reproach of Kaikeyi and the Surabhi Exemplum

Devanagari script

न ह्यहं पापसङ्कल्पे पापे पापं त्वया कृतम्।शक्तो धारयितुं पौरैरश्रुकण्ठै र्निरीक्षितः।।।।

Transliteration

na hy ahaṃ pāpa-saṅkalpe pāpe pāpaṃ tvayā kṛtam |

śakto dhārayituṃ paurair aśru-kaṇṭhair nirīkṣitaḥ ||

Translation

ఓ పాపసంకల్పముగల దుష్టస్త్రీ! కన్నీళ్లతో గొంతు బిగుసుకున్న పౌరులు చూస్తుండగా నీవు చేసిన పాపభారాన్ని నేను భరించలేను।

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

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

• पापसङ्कल्पे: O evil-intentioned one
• पापसङ्कल्पे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa + saṅkalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; समासः—कर्मधारय (पापः सङ्कल्पः यस्य)

• पापे: O sinner/wicked one
• पापे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental, Singular

• कृतम्: done/committed
• कृतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + kta
• Form: PPP (क्त), Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifies ‘पापम्’

• शक्तः: able
• शक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakta (√śak + kta)
• Form: PPP used adjectivally, Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate with ‘अहम्’

• धारयितुम्: to endure/bear
• धारयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhṛ (धातु) + तुमुन्
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)

• पौरैः: by the citizens
• पौरैः: Karana (करण/Instrument; agent of ‘nirīkṣitaḥ’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अश्रुकण्ठैः: with tear-choked throats
• अश्रुकण्ठैः: Karana (करण/Qualifier of instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśru + kaṇṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; बहुव्रीहि—‘अश्रुभिः कण्ठाः यस्य’ = whose throats are choked with tears; qualifies ‘पौरैः’

• निरीक्षितः: watched/observed
• निरीक्षितः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate participle)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niḥ + √īkṣ (धातु) + kta
• Form: PPP (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate: ‘being watched’

Context

Jump into the fire or go to Dandaka forest or hang yourself. There is no other recourse for you.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Kaikeyi
• Citizens of Ayodhya

FAQs

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

Dharma in kingship includes moral and public accountability: wrongdoing in the royal house becomes a burden before the people, and the righteous cannot accept tainted authority.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata, facing a grieving populace, rejects complicity in Kaikeyi’s actions and expresses inability to carry the stigma of her sin.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Conscience and shame before the people: Bharata values ethical legitimacy over political possession.