Shloka 2.104.15
भरतस्य प्रार्थना—रामस्य धर्मोपदेशः (Bharata’s Petition and Rama’s Dharma-Reasoning)
तं मत्तमिव मातङ्गं निःश्वसन्तं पुन पुनः।भ्रातरं भरतं रामः परिष्वज्येदमब्रवीत्।।।।
taṃ mattam iva mātaṅgaṃ niḥśvasantaṃ punaḥ punaḥ | bhrātaraṃ bharataṃ rāmaḥ pariṣvajya idam abravīt ||
Rama embraced his brother Bharata—who kept heaving deep sighs again and again, like an elephant in rut—and then spoke these words.
Rama embraced his brother Bharata who repeatedly heaved sighs and resembled anelephant in rut, and said:
Compassion within dharma: Rama responds to Bharata’s anguish not with harshness but with embrace—upholding fraternal care while preparing a principled reply.
The narration depicts Bharata’s intense grief; Rama comforts him physically before speaking.
Rama’s empathy and steadiness—he consoles Bharata even amid a dispute about duty and kingship.