Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 105, Shloka 42
भरतस्य प्रार्थना—रामस्य कालधर्मोपदेशः
Bharata’s Petition and Rama’s Instruction on Time and Mortality
न मया शासनं तस्य त्यक्तुं न्याय्य मरिन्दम।
स त्वयापि सदा मान्यं स वै बन्धु स नः पिता।।2.105.42।।
na mayā śāsanaṃ tasya tyaktuṃ nyāyyaṃ marindama |
sa tvayāpi sadā mānyaṃ sa vai bandhuḥ sa naḥ pitā ||2.105.42||
敌摧者啊，我不应舍弃他的命令；你也当恒常敬奉它——他确是我们的至亲，也是我们的父王。
O subduer of enemies, I cannot violate the order of the king. You also must respect it for he is our father and friend indeed.
FAQs
Dharma here is obedience to a rightful parental/royal command (pitṛ-śāsana), treating the father’s word as binding and not to be violated for personal convenience.
After Daśaratha’s decision leading to Rāma’s forest-exile, Bharata urges alternatives; Rāma replies that he cannot discard their father’s command and instructs Bharata to honor it.
Rāma’s steadfastness in dharma—self-restraint and fidelity to duty over personal gain.