Shloka 2.99.27
चित्रकूटप्राप्तिः — Bharata Reaches Chitrakuta and Beholds Rama
तं तु कृष्णाजिनधरं चीरवल्कलवाससम्।ददर्श राममासीनमभितः पावकोपमम्।।2.99.26।।सिंहस्कन्धं महाबाहुं पुण्डरीकनिभेक्षणम्।पृथिव्यास्सागरान्तायाः भर्तारं धर्मचारिणम्।।2.99.27।।उपविष्टं महाबाहुं ब्रह्माणमिव शाश्वतम्।स्थण्डिले दर्भसंस्तीर्णे सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च।।2.99.28।।
siṃha-skandhaṃ mahā-bāhuṃ puṇḍarīka-nibhekṣaṇam |
pṛthivyāḥ sāgarāntāyāḥ bhartāraṃ dharma-cāriṇam || 2.99.27 ||
Lion-shouldered, mighty-armed, lotus-eyed—he beheld Rama, the rightful lord of the ocean-bounded earth, who walked the path of dharma.
He saw Rama, lord of the oceanbound earth, seated like blazing fire, clad in antelope skin and garment of bark, with long arms and shoulders like a lion and eyes like white lotuses. The mightyarmed warrior seemed like Brahma, the creator and the eternal, protector of righteousness. Accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana Rama sat on the bare ground strewn with darbha grass.
Dharma is rightful rule through self-restraint: Rama is depicted as the true protector of the earth precisely because he practices dharma, not because he occupies the throne.
The narration intensifies Bharata’s sighting of Rama by describing Rama’s kingly marks and moral identity despite exile.
Maryādā (ethical propriety) joined with rāja-dharma: Rama embodies legitimate sovereignty grounded in righteousness.