Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 42, Shloka 9
द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः — दशरथस्य शोक-विलापः तथा कौशल्यागृह-प्रवेशः
Dasaratha’s Lament and Return to Kausalya’s Apartments
भरतश्चेत्प्रतीतः स्याद्राज्यं प्राप्येदमव्ययम्।यन्मे स दद्यात्पित्रर्थं मामां तद्दत्तमागमत्।।।।
bharataś cet pratītaḥ syād rājyaṃ prāpye dam avyayam | yan me sa dadyāt pitrarthaṃ māṃ tad dattaṃ māgamat ||
भरतश्चेत्प्रतीतः स्याद्राज्यं प्राप्येदमव्ययम्। यन्मे स दद्यात्पित्रर्थं मम तद्दत्तं न आगमत्॥
If Bharata feels pleased to secure this imperishable kingdom, then may his obsequial offerings at my funeral not reach me!
FAQs
It underscores the dhārmic importance of filial rites (śrāddha/obsequies) while showing how anger and despair can invert dharma into a wish for spiritual deprivation—serving as a caution about adharma in speech born from grief.
In the aftermath of Rāma’s exile, Daśaratha speaks in bitterness: if Bharata enjoys the kingship, Daśaratha declares he does not want Bharata’s funeral offerings to benefit him.
The verse emphasizes the tragic collapse of equanimity under sorrow; it implicitly calls attention to the virtue of compassion and measured speech that is strained in moments of calamity.