Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 104, Shloka 21
भरतस्य प्रार्थना—रामस्य धर्मोपदेशः
Bharata’s Petition and Rama’s Dharma-Reasoning
यावत पितरि धर्मज्ञे गौरवं लोकसत्कृतम्।तावद्धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ जनन्यामपि गौरवम्।।।।
yāvat pitari dharmajñe gauravaṁ lokasatkṛtam |
tāvad dharmabhṛtāṁ śreṣṭha jananyām api gauravam ||
护持正法者中之最啊！世人敬奉我父——通晓正法、为世所尊——同样的敬重，也应当奉于我母。
O best among the protectors of righteousness! the honour shown to our father who is conversant with the ways of righteousness and much revered by the world ought to be shown towards our mother also.
FAQs
Equal reverence is owed to both parents; honoring the mother is as binding as honoring the father, because dharma is upheld through balanced filial duty.
Rama is instructing Bharata in the aftermath of the royal crisis, emphasizing how Bharata should relate to their parents and uphold dharma.
Maryādā (propriety) and impartial filial reverence—Rama models principled conduct without bias between parents.