Valmiki Ramayana 2.96.23: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 96, Shloka 23
चित्रकूटे सैन्यधूलिशब्ददर्शनम्
Alarm at Chitrakūṭa: Lakṣmaṇa sights the approaching army
यन्निमित्तं भवान्राज्याच्छ्युतो राघव शाश्वतात्।।2.96.23।।सम्प्राप्तोऽयमरिर्वीर भरतो वध्य एव मे।
yannimittaṃ bhavān rājyāc chyuto rāghava śāśvatāt || 2.96.23 || samprāpto ’yam arir vīra bharato vadhya eva me |
হে রাঘব! যাঁর কারণে তুমি চিরস্থায়ী রাজ্য থেকে বিচ্যুত হয়েছিলে, সেই ভরতই আজ শত্রুরূপে এখানে উপস্থিত হয়েছে। হে বীর! আমার দৃষ্টিতে সে কেবল বধযোগ্য।
O Rama, I do not see anything wrong in slaying Bharata. In killing one who had done harm is not an act of unrighteousness.
FAQs
The verse dramatizes the danger of adharma through hasty judgment: assuming guilt and prescribing violence without full knowledge violates dharmic restraint.
Seeing the approaching forces, Lakṣmaṇa interprets Bharata’s arrival as hostile and urges lethal action.
Loyalty, though expressed as excessive wrath—showing how devotion must be balanced by discernment (viveka).
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