Valmiki Ramayana 2.97.7: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 97, Shloka 7
भरतागमनशङ्कानिवारणम् / Dispelling Suspicion about Bharata’s Arrival
Chitrakuta Encampment
नेयं मम मही सौम्य दुर्लभा सागराम्बरा ।
न हीच्छेयमधर्मेण शक्रत्वमपि लक्ष्मण ॥७॥
na iyaṃ mama mahī saumya durlabhā sāgarāmbarā |
na hi iccheyam adharmeṇa śakratvam api lakṣmaṇa ||7||
اے نرم خو لکشمن! یہ زمین جو سمندر سے گھری ہے، میرے لیے پانا دشوار نہیں؛ مگر اگر ادھرم کے ساتھ ہو تو میں اندر کی بادشاہت بھی نہیں چاہوں گا۔
O gentle Lakshmana, lordship of this earth with the sea as its garment is not difficult to obtain (for me). But I do not desire even Indrahood by unrighteous means.
FAQs
Dharma is superior to power: even the highest sovereignty is worthless if obtained through adharma.
Rāma responds to the tense moment of Bharata’s approach by reaffirming his absolute refusal to seek rule through wrongdoing.
Moral steadfastness—Rāma’s commitment to righteousness is non-negotiable.
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