Shloka 2.106.18

भरतवाक्यं—रामस्य पुनरायोध्यागमननिषेधः (Bharata’s Plea and Rama’s Refusal to Return)

Devanagari script

क्व चारण्यं क्वच क्षात्रं क्व जटाः क्व च पालनम्।ईदृशं व्याहतं कर्म न भवान्कर्तुमर्हति।।।।

Transliteration

kva cāraṇyaṃ kvaca kṣātraṃ kva jaṭāḥ kva ca pālanam |

īdṛśaṃ vyāhataṃ karma na bhavān kartum arhati ||

Translation

What has the forest to do with a kṣatriya’s duty? What have matted locks to do with ruling and protection? It does not befit you to undertake an act so self-contradictory and disruptive.

Context

Where is the forest and where is kshatriya's duty? Where are matted locks and where is governance of the kingdom? It does not behave you to do such acts antithetical to each other.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rama
• Forest (araṇya)
• Kshatriya duty (kṣātra)
• Matted locks (jaṭā)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is role-consistent conduct (svadharma): Bharata argues that Rama’s warrior-king duty is incompatible with ascetic exile when the kingdom needs rightful protection.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata highlights the contradiction between Rama’s royal responsibilities and the external signs and practices of forest renunciation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Commitment to maryādā (proper bounds of conduct): Bharata appeals to the coherence of Rama’s life with his ordained duty.