Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 72: Kaikeyī Informs Bharata About Daśaratha’s Death
Text 2.72.36
रामेति राजा विलपन्हा सीते लक्ष्मणेति च।
स महात्मा परं लोकं गतो गतिमतां वरः॥
rāmeti rājā vilapan hā sīte lakṣmaṇeti ca
sa mahātmā paraṁ lokaṁ gato gatimatāṁ varaḥ
rāma iti = Rāma; rājā = king; vilapan = while lamenting; hā = alas; sīte = Sītā; lakṣmaṇa iti = Lakṣmaṇa; ca = and; saḥ = the; mahā-ātmā = was a great soul; param lokam = for the superior worlds; gataḥ = he departed; gatimatām = of sojourners; varaḥ = and the best.
The king was a great soul and the best of sojourners. He departed for the superior worlds while lamenting, “Alas, Rāma, Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa!”
Kaikeyī answered Bharata’s question in this manner to prevent Him from becoming [overly] affectionate to His father.