Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 97, Shloka 16
भरतागमनशङ्कानिवारणम् / Dispelling Suspicion about Bharata’s Arrival
Chitrakuta Encampment
कथं नु पुत्राः पितरं हन्युः कस्यां चिदापदि।भ्राता वा भ्रातरं हन्यात्सौमित्रे प्राणमात्मनः।।।।
kathaṃ nu putrāḥ pitaraṃ hanyuḥ kasyāṃ cid āpadi | bhrātā vā bhrātaraṃ hanyāt saumitre prāṇam ātmanaḥ ||
कथं नु पुत्राः पितरं हन्युः कस्यां चिदापदि। भ्राता वा भ्रातरं हन्यात् सौमित्रे प्राणमात्मनः॥
If you are saying all these words only for the sake of the kingdom, then I shall ask Bharata when I see him to offer this kingdom to you.
FAQs
Dharma upholds the sanctity of family bonds: patricide and fratricide are portrayed as almost unthinkable, even in crisis.
Rama argues against Lakshmana’s fear-driven assumptions, stressing that close kin do not turn murderous in righteous families.
Rama’s commitment to maryādā (moral boundaries) and faith in familial righteousness.