Shloka 2.113.17
पादुकाप्रदानं भरतस्य निवृत्तिश्च (The Sandals Bestowed; Bharata’s Return Toward Ayodhya)
अमृत स्समहाबाहुः पिता दशरथस्तव।यस्य त्वमीदृश: पुत्रो धर्मज्ञो धर्मवत्सलः।।।।
amṛtaḥ sa mahābāhuḥ pitā daśarathas tava | yasya tvam īdṛśaḥ putro dharmajño dharmavatsalaḥ ||
That mighty-armed father of yours, Daśaratha, is not truly dead—since he has a son like you, one who knows dharma and is devoted to dharma.
With you as his son, endowed with qualities of righteousness and devotion to duty, your mighty-armed father Dasaratha is not dead. (He lives through you).
A righteous heir preserves a parent’s moral life and reputation; dharma becomes a form of continuity beyond death.
Bharadvāja consoles and praises Bharata, asserting that Daśaratha lives on through Bharata’s dharmic conduct.
Dharma-jñāna (discernment of right) and dharma-vātsalya (deep devotion to duty).