Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 104, Shloka 18
भरतस्य प्रार्थना—रामस्य धर्मोपदेशः
Bharata’s Petition and Rama’s Dharma-Reasoning
कामकारो महाप्राज्ञ गुरूणां सर्वदाऽनघ।उपपन्नेषु दारेषु पुत्रेषु च विधीयते।।।।
kāmakāro mahāprājña gurūṇāṃ sarvadā ’nagha | upapanneṣu dāreṣu putreṣu ca vidhīyate ||
हे महाप्राज्ञ, हे अनघ! शास्त्र में यह विधान है कि पत्नी और पुत्र उचित रीति से स्थापित हो जाने पर गुरुओं (बड़ों) को उनके विषय में अपनी इच्छा के अनुसार आचरण करने का अधिकार होता है।
O sagacious and sinless one, it is laid down (in sastras) that elders when married can always act at their free will towards their wives and sons.
FAQs
Acceptance of legitimate elder authority: dharma-text tradition grants elders discretionary authority within the household order, urging the younger to respond without resentment.
Rama frames the crisis within a broader dharmic norm: elders’ decisions in family matters carry binding force, even when painful.
Rama’s commitment to śāstric reasoning and calm instruction rather than emotional retaliation.