Shloka 17
भरतस्य कैकेय्याः प्रति धिक्कारः
Bharata’s Rebuke of Kaikeyi and Affirmation of Ikshvaku Royal Dharma
अथवा मे भवेच्छक्तिर्योगैर्बुद्धिबलेन वा।सकामां न करिष्यामि त्वामहं पुत्रगर्धिनीम्।।।।
athavā me bhavec chaktir yogair buddhi-balena vā | sakāmāṃ na kariṣyāmi tvām ahaṃ putra-gardhinīm || 2.73.17 ||
أو لو نلتُ قوةً بالحِيَل السياسية أو بسطوة العقل، فلن أدعكِ—وأنتِ المتلهفة لابنكِ—تبلغين ما تشتهين.
If I gather the strength (to carry the burden) either by employing the four expedients (available to a king against an enemy) or by the power of intellect, I will not allow you, covetous of your son, to fulfil your ambition.
FAQs
Dharma rejects success obtained through injustice; even legitimate skills of governance and strategy must not be used to validate an adharmic outcome.
Bharata directly tells Kaikeyī that even if he had the means—strategy or intellect—he would not cooperate in fulfilling her plan to enthrone her son.
Satya and moral steadfastness—Bharata’s refusal to profit from wrongdoing, even when he could potentially consolidate power.