Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 73, Shloka 10
भरतस्य कैकेय्याः प्रति धिक्कारः
Bharata’s Rebuke of Kaikeyi and Affirmation of Ikshvaku Royal Dharma
तथा ज्येष्ठा हि मे माता कौसल्या दीर्घदर्शिनी।त्वयि धर्मं समास्थाय भगिन्यामिव वर्तते।।।।
tathā jyeṣṭhā hi me mātā kausalyā dīrgha-darśinī | tvayi dharmaṃ samāsthāya bhaginyām iva vartate || 2.73.10 ||
Likewise my eldest mother, far-seeing Kausalyā, standing firmly in dharma, has behaved toward you as though you were her own sister.
In the same way my eldest mother the farsighted Kausalya, too adhered to righteousness and conducted herself towards you like a sister.
FAQs
Dharma as restraint and benevolence: Kausalyā maintains righteous conduct and sisterly regard even toward one connected with her suffering.
Bharata, condemning the injustice done to Rāma, contrasts it with Kausalyā’s dignified, dharmic behavior toward Kaikeyī.
Kausalyā’s kṣamā (forbearance) and dharma-niṣṭhā (steadfastness in righteousness).