Shloka 20
भरतवाक्यं—रामस्य पुनरायोध्यागमननिषेधः
Bharata’s Plea and Rama’s Refusal to Return
कश्च प्रत्यक्षमुत्सृज्य संशयस्थ मलक्षणम्।आयतिस्थं चरे द्धर्मं क्षत्रबन्दुरनिश्चितम्।।।।
kaś ca pratyakṣam utsṛjya saṁśayastham alakṣaṇam |
āyatisthaṁ cared dharmaṁ kṣatrabandhur aniścitam ||
ਕਿਹੜਾ ਖ਼ਤਰੀ ਪ੍ਰਤੱਖ ਤੇ ਤੁਰੰਤ ਕਰਤੱਬ ਨੂੰ ਛੱਡ ਕੇ, ਸੰਦੇਹਪੂਰਨ ਅਤੇ ਅਮੰਗਲ ਲੱਛਣਾਂ ਵਾਲੀ, ਜਿਸ ਦਾ ਫਲ ਦੂਰ ਭਵਿੱਖ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੋਵੇ, ਐਸੀ ਅਨਿਸ਼ਚਿਤ ‘ਧਰਮ-ਚਰਿਆ’ ਨੂੰ ਅਪਣਾਵੇਗਾ?॥
Will any kshatriya, setting aside his first duty, follow an uncertain course of piety which is contrary to his dharma and whose impact may be felt in a remote future.
FAQs
Dharma is framed as one’s immediate, role-based obligation (svadharma), not a speculative or inappropriate path that neglects present responsibilities.
Bharata challenges the idea that Rama should avoid kingship; he argues that forsaking manifest royal duty for uncertain alternatives is improper for a kṣatriya.
Bharata’s moral clarity and insistence on svadharma—he prioritizes responsible governance over ambiguous ideals.