Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 111, Shloka 16
अयोध्याकाण्डे एकादशोत्तरशततमः सर्गः
Sarga 111: Counsel on Gurus, Parental Debt, and Bharata’s Protest
तमुवाच महातेजा रामो राजर्षिसत्तमः।किं मां भरत कुर्वाणं तात प्रत्युपवेक्ष्यसि।।।।
tam uvāca mahātejā rāmo rājarṣisattamaḥ | kiṃ māṃ bharata kurvāṇaṃ tāta pratyupavekṣyasi ||
तमुवाच महातेजा रामो राजर्षिसत्तमः— “किं मां भरत कुर्वाणं तात प्रत्युपवेक्ष्यसि?”
Rama, the foremost of royal sages and highly powerful said, 'Dear Bharata, what wrong have I done that you should prevent me by lying down in front of me?'
FAQs
Rama questions coercive righteousness: even a good end (restoring kingship) should not be pursued through improper pressure, especially against one who is acting within dharma.
Seeing Bharata’s protest posture, Rama directly challenges the legitimacy of such an act against him.
Rama’s moral clarity and restraint—he refuses to be compelled by emotional or physical pressure.