Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 97, Shloka 4
भरतागमनशङ्कानिवारणम् / Dispelling Suspicion about Bharata’s Arrival
Chitrakuta Encampment
यद्द्रव्यं बान्धवानां वा मित्राणां वा क्षये भवेत्।नाहं तत्प्रतिगृह्णीयां भक्षान्विषकृतानिव।।।।
yad dravyaṃ bāndhavānāṃ vā mitrāṇāṃ vā kṣaye bhavet |
na ahaṃ tat pratigṛhṇīyāṃ bhakṣān viṣakṛtān iva ||
I would never accept wealth that comes through the ruin of kinsmen or friends—like food that has been laced with poison.
Bharata's army full of horses, elephants and chariots covering a distance of more than one and a half yojanas encamped by the side of the mountain.
FAQs
Ends do not justify means: wealth gained by harming loved ones is intrinsically impure and must be rejected.
Rāma explains to Lakṣmaṇa why he will not accept kingship or benefit that would come through conflict with Bharata or family.
Moral discernment and self-restraint—Rāma values righteousness over material gain.