Shloka 2.105.9
भरतस्य प्रार्थना—रामस्य कालधर्मोपदेशः (Bharata’s Petition and Rama’s Instruction on Time and Mortality)
यथा तु रोपितो वृक्षः पुरुषेण विवर्धितः।ह्रस्वकेण दुरारोहो रूढस्कन्धो महाद्रुमः।।2.105.8।।स यदा पुष्पितो भूत्वा फलानि न विदर्शयेत्।स तां नानुभवेत्प्रीतिं यस्य हेतोः प्ररोपितः।।2.105.9।।एषोपमा महाबाहो तमर्थं वेत्तु मर्हसि।यदि त्वमस्मान्वृषभो भर्ता भृत्यान्न शाधि हि।।2.105.10।।
sa yadā puṣpito bhūtvā phalāni na vidarśayet |
sa tāṁ nānubhavet prītiṁ yasya hetoḥ praropitaḥ || 2.105.9 ||
But when that tree, though in bloom, shows no fruits, the man who planted it finds no joy, for the very purpose for which it was planted remains unfulfilled.
O mightyarmed Rama, a man plants a tree, rears it till it grows into such a large tree with a big trunk that it becomes difficult for a dwarf to climb. When the tree flowers but does not bear fruit, the man who planted it gets no pleasure out of the purpose for which the tree was planted. Being a mighty protector, do not chastise us who are your servants. This is a simile. You may better comprehend its implications.(The meaning of the simile is that if you do not assume the throne, the desire of our father, who nurtured you right from your childhood and hoped that one day you will become king and rule the people, will be in vain.)
It stresses purposeful responsibility: nurturing something (like a prince trained for kingship) should culminate in righteous fruition; otherwise the intended dharmic aim—welfare through just rule—remains incomplete.
The people imply that Rama’s accepting kingship would fulfill the truthful intent behind his upbringing and the public expectation of righteous governance; denying that outcome would make the earlier effort and hope appear vain.