Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 78, Shloka 22
अष्टसप्ततितमः सर्गः — Śatrughna’s Fury and Bharata’s Restraint
Mantharā Episode
हन्यामहमिमां पापां कैकेयीं दुष्टचारिणीम्।यदि मां धार्मिको रामो नासूयेन्मातृघातकम्।।।।
hanyām aham imāṁ pāpāṁ kaikeyīṁ duṣṭacāriṇīm |
yadi māṁ dhārmiko rāmo nāsūyen mātṛghātakam ||
I would have slain this sinful Kaikeyī, a woman of wicked conduct—if righteous Rāma would not then condemn me as a ‘slayer of a mother.’
Hearing the words of Bharata, Satrughna, the younger brother of Lakshmana restrained his fury and also released Manthara.
FAQs
Even when one feels justified, dharma sets inviolable boundaries (e.g., the grave sin of harming a mother-figure); the judgment of the truly righteous (Rāma) becomes an internal moral check.
Śatrughna admits he is held back from killing Kaikeyī only because Rāma would denounce him for matricide.
Rāma’s moral authority: his commitment to dharma is so firm that others restrain themselves to avoid his rightful censure.