Valmiki Ramayana 2.74.21 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 74, Shloka 21

भरतस्य कैकेयी-गर्हा तथा सुरभि-दृष्टान्तः

Bharata’s Reproach of Kaikeyi and the Surabhi Exemplum

Devanagari script

भयं कच्छिन्न चास्मासु कुतश्चिद्विद्यते महत्।कुतोनिमत्तश्शोकस्ते ब्रूहि सर्वहितैषिणि।।।।

Transliteration

bhayaṁ kacchin na cāsmāsu kutaścid vidyate mahat | kuto nimattaḥ śokas te brūhi sarvahitaiṣiṇi ||

Translation

โอ้ผู้ปรารถนาดีต่อสรรพชีวิต ขออย่าได้มีภัยใหญ่เกิดแก่พวกเราจากทิศใดเลย ความโศกของท่านเกิดจากเหตุอันใด จงบอกเถิด

Word by Word

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कच्चित्: perhaps?/surely? (question particle)
• कच्चित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रश्नार्थक-निपात (interrogative particle: ‘is it the case?’)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध-निपात (negation)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अस्मासु: among us
• अस्मासु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; ‘among us/for us’

• कुतश्चित्: from any quarter
• कुतश्चित्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुतश्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अव्यय-प्रयोग (indefinite adverb: ‘from anywhere’)

• विद्यते: exists/is found
• विद्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; भावे प्रयोगः (exists)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying भयम्)

• कुतः: from what cause/why
• कुतः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative adverb: ‘from what/why’)

• निमित्तः: cause/reason
• निमित्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निमित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘cause’ (used predicatively with implied ‘is’)

• शोकः: sorrow
• शोकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• ब्रूहि: tell/speak
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सर्वहितैषिणि: O well-wisher of all
• सर्वहितैषिणि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-हित-एषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (सर्वस्य हितम् एषते या)

Context

'O holy cow fear not. You wish the welfare of all, Has any great calamity befallen us from any quarter? I hope not. What is the reason for your sorrow? Tell me'.

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Surabhi
• Kāmadhenu

FAQs

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

Dharma begins with truthful inquiry and concern for others’ welfare: one should ask the cause of suffering and address it rather than ignore it.

What is the narrative situation?

Indra questions Surabhi respectfully, checking first for any danger to the gods and then seeking the true cause of her grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Indra’s responsibility and empathy—he combines vigilance for the common good with care for an individual’s pain.