Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 106, Shloka 16
भरतवाक्यं—रामस्य पुनरायोध्यागमननिषेधः
Bharata’s Plea and Rama’s Refusal to Return
तदपत्यं भवानस्तु मा भवान् दुष्कृतं पितुः।अभिपत्ता कृतं कर्म लोके धीरविगर्हितम्।।।।
tad apatyaṃ bhavān astu mā bhavān duṣkṛtaṃ pituḥ |
abhipattā kṛtaṃ karma loke dhīra-vigarhītam ||
故当为真子；切莫附和我父所作之恶业——此业为世间智者所讥评所谴责。
So be a worthy son and let not the sinful act committed by our father and condemned by men of wisdom be approved by you.
FAQs
Dharma prohibits legitimizing wrongdoing: moral agents must avoid becoming ‘approvers’ of injustice, especially when public wisdom condemns it.
Bharata pressures Rama to return and rule, warning that accepting exile as final would effectively ratify the unjust act.
Accountability to ethical standards recognized by the wise (dhīra), not merely to power or custom.