Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 105, Shloka 31
भरतस्य प्रार्थना—रामस्य कालधर्मोपदेशः
Bharata’s Petition and Rama’s Instruction on Time and Mortality
वयसः पतमानस्य स्रोतसो वाऽनिवर्तिनः।आत्मा सुखे नियोक्तव्यस्सुखभाजः प्रजाः स्मृताः।।2.105.31।।
vayasaḥ patamānasya srotaso vā 'nivartinaḥ | ātmā sukhe niyoktavyaḥ sukhabhājaḥ prajāḥ smṛtāḥ || 2.105.31 ||
जैसे न लौटने वाली धारा की भाँति आयु ढलती जाती है, वैसे ही मनुष्य को अपने आत्मा को शुभ और स्थायी सुख देने वाले मार्ग में संयमित करना चाहिए; क्योंकि शास्त्रों में प्रजा को सुख की भागी और सुख की चाह रखने वाली कहा गया है।
Like the flow of water which never reverts to its source, age passes. Therefore, a man must employ his self in righteous acts that bring him happiness. By doing so, it is said, people will always be happy.
FAQs
Use time rightly: since life moves forward irreversibly, dharma is to engage the mind in righteous conduct that produces true well-being.
Bharata urges Rāma to orient himself to constructive, dharmic action, rather than being immobilized by loss.
Self-mastery (ātma-niyama): directing the mind toward the good despite the pressure of grief.