Valmiki Ramayana 2.78.20: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 78, Shloka 20

अष्टसप्ततितमः सर्गः · Śatrughna’s Fury and Bharata’s Restraint

Mantharā Episode

Devanagari script

तैर्वाक्यैः परुषैर्दुःखैः कैकेयी भृशदुःखिता ।

शत्रुघ्नभयसन्त्रस्ता पुत्रं शरणमागता ॥२०॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.78.20

Transliteration

tair vākyaiḥ paruṣair duḥkhaiḥ kaikeyī bhṛśaduḥkhitā |

śatrughnabhayasantrastā putraṁ śaraṇam āgatā ||20||

Translation

ఆ కఠినమైన, దుఃఖకరమైన మాటలతో కైకేయి అత్యంత వ్యథపడింది; శత్రుఘ్న భయంతో కలవరపడి తన కుమారుని శరణు కోరుతూ వెళ్లింది।

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Word by Word

• तैः: by those
• तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• वाक्यैः: words, statements
• वाक्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• परुषैः: harsh
• परुषैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying vākyaiḥ)

• दुःखैः: painful, grievous
• दुःखैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying vākyaiḥ)

• कैकेयी: Kaikeyī
• कैकेयी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भृशदुःखिता: extremely distressed
• भृशदुःखिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भृश + दुःखित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (भृशं दुःखिता)

• शत्रुघ्नभयसन्त्रस्ता: terrified due to fear of Shatrughna
• शत्रुघ्नभयसन्त्रस्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत्रुघ्न + भय + संत्रस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शत्रुघ्नस्य भयेन संत्रस्ता)

• पुत्रम्: son (Bharata)
• पुत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शरणम्: for refuge, as protection
• शरणम्: Gati-karma (गतिकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थक-क्रियायाः कर्म (object of motion)

• आगता: came, approached
• आगता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्गः आ-; कर्तरि-प्रयोग (she having come)

Context

Kaikeyi, deeply distressed at those harsh and grievous words was afraid of Satrughna and sought the protection of her son Bharata.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Śatrughna
• Bharata

FAQs

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

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.

What is the narrative situation?

After bitter reproaches, Kaikeyī fears retaliation from Śatrughna and turns to Bharata for protection.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s implied role as protector and stabilizer of the household—someone to whom even the guilty appeal for safety.