Shloka 2.82.18

भरतस्य धर्मप्रतिज्ञा तथा रामनिवर्तनयात्रा (Bharata’s Vow of Dharma and the Expedition to Recall Rama)

Devanagari script

यदि त्वार्यं न शक्ष्यामि विनिवर्तयितुं वनात्।वने तत्रैव वत्स्यामि यथाऽर्यो लक्ष्मणस्तथा।।।।

Transliteration

yadi tv āryaṃ na śakṣyāmi vinivartayituṃ vanāt |

vane tatraiva vatsyāmi yathāryo lakṣmaṇas tathā ||

Translation

If I cannot bring my noble brother back from the forest, then I shall dwell there in the woods themselves—just as the noble Lakṣmaṇa does.

Context

If I am not able to bring back my noble brother (Rama) from the forest, I shall also dwell there like my noble brother Lakshmana.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rāma (implied as ārya)
• Lakṣmaṇa
• forest (vana)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma as shared burden: Bharata accepts personal hardship rather than enjoy comfort built on injustice, aligning his life with Rāma’s exile if reconciliation fails.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata vows that if persuasion does not succeed, he will abandon royal life and join the forest life, paralleling Lakṣmaṇa’s choice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sacrifice and solidarity: Bharata chooses to suffer with the righteous rather than rule without them.