Shloka 4.18.10

वाली–रामसंवादः (Rama’s Justification to Vali on Rājadharma)

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्नृपतिशार्दूले भरते धर्मवत्सले।पालयत्यखिलां भूमिं कश्चरेद्धर्मनिग्रहम्।।

Transliteration

tasmin nṛpatiśārdūle bharate dharmavatsale | pālayatyakhilāṃ bhūmiṃ kaś cared dharmanigraham ||

Translation

When Bharata—tiger among kings and devoted to dharma—protects the whole earth, who would dare transgress and stray beyond the restraint of righteousness?

Context

'Who can stray from the path of dharma when the whole world is ruled by Bharata, a tiger among kings, and a lover of dharma?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Bharata
• bhūmi (earth)
• dharma

FAQs

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

Rājadharma (kingly duty) creates a moral-legal order: under a righteous ruler, wrongdoing is restrained. Rāma appeals to the legitimacy of dharma-enforcement under Bharata’s शासन (governance).

What is the narrative situation?

In answering Vālin, Rāma invokes Bharata’s righteous rule to argue that dharma is actively upheld and that transgressors are subject to restraint and punishment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s dharma-centered governance—he is portrayed as a protector whose rule discourages adharma.