Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 72, Shloka 52
भरतस्य मातृसदनगमनं कैकेय्या दारुणवृत्तान्तकथनं च
Bharata in Kaikeyi’s apartments: revelation of Daśaratha’s death and Rāma’s exile
त्वयात्विदानीं धर्मज्ञ राजत्वमवलम्ब्यताम्।त्वत्कृते हि मया सर्वमिदमेवं विधं कृतम्।।2.72.52।।
tvayā tv idānīṁ dharmajña rājatvam avalambyatām | tvatkṛte hi mayā sarvam idam evaṁvidhaṁ kṛtam || 2.72.52 ||
Ainsi donc, ô connaisseur du dharma, prends maintenant la royauté; car c’est pour toi que j’ai accompli tout cela de cette manière.
O knower of dharma, assume kingship now. It is only for your sake that all this has been done by me.
FAQs
Dharma cannot be invoked to legitimize adharma: calling Bharata “dharmajña” while urging him to accept a throne obtained through injustice highlights ethical contradiction.
After admitting her actions and Daśaratha’s death, Kaikeyī presses Bharata to assume the throne.
Bharata’s reputation for dharma is acknowledged—even by Kaikeyī—setting up his principled refusal later.