Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 68, Shloka 8
दूतप्रेषणम् — Dispatch of Messengers to Kekaya
Bharata’s Recall
मा चास्मै प्रोषितं रामं मा चास्मै पितरं मृतम्।भवन्त श्शंसिषुर्गत्वा राघवाणामिमं क्षयम्।।2.68.8।।
mā cāsmai proṣitaṃ rāmaṃ mā cāsmai pitaraṃ mṛtam | bhavantaḥ śaṃsiṣur gatvā rāghavāṇām imaṃ kṣayam || 2.68.8 ||
When you reach him, do not tell him that Rāma has been sent away, nor that his father has died—do not disclose this calamity that has befallen the house of the Rāghavas.
All of you go there and do not communicate (to Bharata) about the exile of Rama or the demise of his father and the disaster that has befallen the Raghus.
FAQs
Dharma balances satya (truth) with ahiṃsā-like restraint: harsh truths may be withheld temporarily to prevent shock and enable orderly action in a fragile moment.
Vasiṣṭha instructs the envoys to summon Bharata without revealing the twin tragedies—Rāma’s exile and the king’s death.
Compassionate prudence—protecting Bharata from sudden emotional collapse while ensuring he returns promptly.