Shloka 1.1.35
श्रीमद्रामायणकथासङ्क्षेपः / The Ramayana in Synopsis (Narada’s Summary to Valmiki)
गत्वा तु सुमहात्मानं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम् ।अयाचद्भ्रातरं राममार्यभावपुरस्कृत: ।।।।त्वमेव राजा धर्मज्ञ इति रामं वचोऽब्रवीत् ।
gatvā tu sumahātmānaṃ rāmaṃ satyaparākramam |
ayācad bhrātaraṃ rāmam āryabhāvapuraskṛtaḥ |
tvam eva rājā dharmajña iti rāmaṃ vaco ’bravīt ||
Having gone to Rāma—high-souled and whose valor was grounded in truth—Bharata, placing reverence in the forefront, implored his brother. Addressing Rāma, he said: “You alone, knower of dharma, should be king.”
Bharata reached Rama, so pleasing venerable, truthful and chivalrous, worshipped him with reverence and implored.Bharata addressing Rama said, 'You are knower of righteousness. You alone should be the king (meaning that when the elder brother is alive, the younger brother is prohibited from ruling the kingdom)'.
Rājadharma grounded in primogeniture and propriety: Bharata insists that rightful kingship belongs to Rāma, the elder brother, and that rule should align with dharma rather than personal gain.
After the exile decision, Bharata meets Rāma and urges him to accept kingship, framing the request as a matter of dharma.
Bharata’s humility and reverence: he approaches Rāma respectfully and subordinates his own position to dharmic legitimacy.