Shloka 2.74.32
भरतस्य कैकेयी-गर्हा तथा सुरभि-दृष्टान्तः (Bharata’s Reproach of Kaikeyi and the Surabhi Exemplum)
न ह्यहं पापसङ्कल्पे पापे पापं त्वया कृतम्।शक्तो धारयितुं पौरैरश्रुकण्ठै र्निरीक्षितः।।।।
anāyayitvā tanayaṃ kausalyāyā mahābalam |
svayam eva pravekṣyāmi vanaṃ muni-niṣevitam ||
If I do not bring back Kausalya’s mighty son, I myself will enter the forest—haunted and dwelt in by ascetics.
O vicious one!, O evil-intentioned one! being watched by the citizens with their throats choked with tears of grief, I cannot endure the burden of the sin committed by you.
A ruler-in-waiting must prioritize rightful succession and justice over comfort; Bharata binds himself by a vow to correct the adharma done to Rama.
Bharata announces that unless he succeeds in bringing Rama back to Ayodhya, he will renounce palace life and go to the ascetics’ forest.
Self-denial and steadfastness: Bharata refuses to accept kingship at the cost of righteousness.