Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 104, Shloka 9
भरतस्य प्रार्थना—रामस्य धर्मोपदेशः
Bharata’s Petition and Rama’s Dharma-Reasoning
इमाः प्रकृतय स्सर्वा विधवा मातरश्च याः।त्वत्सकाशमनुप्राप्ता प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि।।।।
imāḥ prakṛtayaḥ sarvā vidhavā mātaraś ca yāḥ |
tvat-sakāśam anuprāptāḥ prasādaṃ kartum arhasi ||
ये समस्त प्रजाजन और वे विधवा माताएँ भी, जो आपके पास आई हैं—आप उन्हें यह अनुग्रह प्रदान करने योग्य हैं।
All these subjects and your widowed mothers have come to you. It behoves you to grant them this favour.
FAQs
A king’s dharma is relational: responsibility toward subjects and dependents (especially vulnerable widows) is a central measure of righteous rule.
Bharata points to the presence of citizens and widowed queens as a collective appeal urging Rāma to accept kingship.
Bharata’s sense of public duty: he frames the issue as the people’s welfare, not personal gain.