Valmiki Ramayana 2.91.9: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 91, Shloka 9
भरद्वाजाश्रमे भरतसैन्यस्य दिव्यात्मिथ्यम् / Divine Hospitality to Bharata’s Army at Bharadvaja’s Hermitage
ते वृक्षानुदकं भूमिमाश्रमेषूटजां स्तथा।न हिंस्युरिति तेनाऽहमेक एव समागतः।।।।
te vṛkṣān udakaṃ bhūmim āśrameṣv uṭajāṃs tathā |
na hiṃsyur iti tenāham eka eva samāgataḥ ||
‘ಆಶ್ರಮಗಳ ಕುಟೀರಗಳಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಮರಗಳು, ನೀರು, ಭೂಮಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಗುಡಿಸಲುಗಳಿಗೆ ಅವರು ಹಾನಿ ಮಾಡಬಾರದು’ ಎಂದು ಯೋಚಿಸಿ, ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ನಾನು ಒಬ್ಬನೇ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂದೆನು.
Lest the army should damage the huts, trees, land, and defile the water in the ashram, I came here alone.
FAQs
Ahimsa and environmental reverence within dharma: sacred spaces (āśramas) and their natural resources should not be harmed, even unintentionally by a large force.
Bharata explains why he personally approached the sage instead of bringing the entire army into the hermitage area.
Bharata’s conscientious restraint and respect for ascetic life—protecting the hermitage and its ecology.
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