Shloka 2.81.7
एकाशीति तमः सर्गः — Bharata’s Grief, Courtly Summons, and the Assembly Hall
यो हि न स्सुमहान्नाथस्सोऽपि प्रव्राजितो वनम्।अनया धर्ममुत्सृज्य मात्रा मे राघवस्स्वयम्।।।।
yo hi naḥ sumahān nāthaḥ so 'pi pravrājito vanam |
anayā dharmam utsṛjya mātrā me rāghavaḥ svayam ||
“Rāghava—great protector of us all—has himself been driven into the forest by my mother, who cast aside dharma.”
Even Rama, a great protector for all of us, has been banished to the forest by my mother bereft of virtuous conduct.
Dharma must not be abandoned for personal desire; when dharma is forsaken within the royal family, even the most worthy protector can be unjustly expelled.
Bharata condemns the adharma behind Rāma’s exile and recognizes Rāma’s role as the kingdom’s natural guardian.
Truthfulness and loyalty to righteousness: Bharata openly acknowledges wrongdoing by his own mother and affirms Rāma’s rightful stature.