Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 111, Shloka 17
अयोध्याकाण्डे एकादशोत्तरशततमः सर्गः
Sarga 111: Counsel on Gurus, Parental Debt, and Bharata’s Protest
ब्राह्मणो ह्येकपार्श्वेन नरान्रोद्धुमिहार्हति।न तु मूर्धाभिषिक्तानां विधिः प्रत्युपवेशने।।।।
brāhmaṇo hy ekapārśvena narān roddhum ihārhati | na tu mūrdhābhiṣiktānāṃ vidhiḥ pratyupaveśane ||
Only a brahmin, lying on one side, is held in this world to have the authority to restrain others in such a manner; but for one who is anointed to kingship, there is no scriptural convention permitting protest by lying down.
A brahmin alone is competent in this world to prevent a person by lying down on one side (in front of him). One who is anointed king is not permitted by (scriptural) tradition to squat in protest.
FAQs
Dharma is role-sensitive: Rama argues that methods acceptable to one social/religious role (a brahmin’s censure) are not automatically appropriate for a king, who must embody rājadharma and restraint.
Rama rebukes Bharata’s tactic, stating it violates the proper code for an anointed ruler.
Rama’s commitment to maryādā (propriety)—he defends ethical process, not just outcomes.