Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 111, Shloka 7
अयोध्याकाण्डे एकादशोत्तरशततमः सर्गः
Sarga 111: Counsel on Gurus, Parental Debt, and Bharata’s Protest
भरतस्य वचः कुर्वन्याचमानस्य राघव।आत्मानं नातिवर्तेस्त्वं सत्यधर्मपराक्रम।।।।
bharatasya vacaḥ kurvan yācamānasya rāghava | ātmānaṃ nātivartes tvaṃ satyadharma-parākrama ||
O Rāghava, if you comply with the words of Bharata who is pleading, you will not go against your own inner self—O you whose strength is rooted in truth and righteousness.
O scion of the Raghus whose strength springs from truth and righteousness, if you accede to the prayers of Bharata, you will not ignore the call of your soul.
FAQs
Harmony between external duty and inner conscience: dharma is portrayed as something that should not violate the ātman, especially when responding to a righteous plea.
Vasiṣṭha supports Bharata’s entreaty and urges Rāma to consider accepting it as consistent with his own nature rooted in satya and dharma.
Moral courage grounded in truth: Rāma’s ‘parākrama’ is defined not by force but by fidelity to satya-dharma.