Valmiki Ramayana 2.74.19 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 74, Shloka 19

भरतस्य कैकेयी-गर्हा तथा सुरभि-दृष्टान्तः

Bharata’s Reproach of Kaikeyi and the Surabhi Exemplum

Devanagari script

निरीक्षमाण श्शक्रस्तां ददर्श सुरभिं स्थिताम्।आकाशे विष्ठितां दीनां रुदन्तीं भृशदुःखिताम्।।।।

Transliteration

nirīkṣamāṇaḥ śakras tāṃ dadarśa surabhiṃ sthitām | ākāśe viṣṭhitāṃ dīnāṃ rudantīṃ bhṛśaduḥkhitām ||

Translation

ครั้นพระศักระ (พระอินทร์) เหลียวมองไปมา ก็ทอดพระเนตรเห็นสุรภีประทับอยู่กลางนภา—เศร้าร้อน อ่อนระโหย คร่ำครวญร่ำไห้ และทุกข์หนักยิ่ง

Word by Word

• निरीक्षमाणः: looking (up)
• निरीक्षमाणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘looking (up/on)’

• शक्रः: Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ददर्श: saw/beheld
• ददर्श: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सुरभिम्: Surabhi
• सुरभिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; apposition to ताम्

• स्थिताम्: standing/placed
• स्थिताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्था)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying सुरभिम्)

• आकाशे: in the sky
• आकाशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• विष्ठिताम्: distressed/afflicted
• विष्ठिताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्ठित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्था with vi-)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• दीनाम्: miserable
• दीनाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• रुदन्तीम्: wailing
• रुदन्तीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √रुद् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• भृशदुःखिताम्: intensely sorrowful
• भृशदुःखिताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भृश-दुःखित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (भृशं दुःखिता); विशेषणम्

Context

While looking around Indra beheld Kamadhenu in intense pain stationed in the sky, looking distressed and miserable, and wailing.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Kaikeyi
• Indra (Śakra)
• Surabhī
• Ākāśa (sky)

FAQs

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

The verse prepares the idea that dharma demands response to suffering: recognition of distress is the first step toward restoring moral balance.

What is the narrative situation?

Indra locates Surabhī in the sky and observes her overwhelming grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsiveness to suffering—an ethical readiness (in rulers and gods alike) to address visible injustice.