Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 75, Shloka 39
अयोध्याकाण्डे पञ्चसप्ततितमः सर्गः
Sarga 75: Bharata and Kausalya—Reproach, Oaths, and Reconciliation
सङ्ग्रमे समुपोढे स्म शत्रुपक्षभयङ्करे।पलायामानो वध्येत यस्यार्योऽनुमते गतः।।।।
saṅgrame samupoḍhe sma śatrupakṣabhayaṅkare | palāyamāno vadhyeta yasyāryo ’numate gataḥ ||
Semoga orang yang atas persetujuannya saudaraku yang mulia dibuang, mengalami nasib seorang ksatria yang, saat pertempuran memuncak dan menakutkan bagi pihak musuh, justru terbunuh ketika melarikan diri.
May the one who counselled the exile of my esteemed brother acquire the same sin like a warrior, dreadful to the enemy side who will be slain while fleeing from the war at its peak!
FAQs
For a kṣatriya, dharma includes steadfastness in crisis; fleeing at the decisive moment is dishonorable and invites ruin.
Bharata uses a martial analogy to portray the instigator’s moral failure as cowardice at the peak of duty.
Courage and steadfastness—qualities Bharata implicitly associates with Rāma’s righteous path.