Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 106, Shloka 2
भरतवाक्यं—रामस्य पुनरायोध्यागमननिषेधः
Bharata’s Plea and Rama’s Refusal to Return
को हि स्यादीदृशो लोके यादृश स्त्वमरिन्दमः।।।।न त्वां प्रव्यथयेद्दुःखं प्रीतिर्वा नप्रहर्षयेत्।सम्मतश्चासि वृद्धानां तांश्च पृच्छसि संशयान्।।।।
ko hi syād īdṛśo loke yādṛśas tvam arindamaḥ |
na tvāṁ pravyathayed duḥkhaṁ prītir vā na praharṣayet |
sammataś cāsi vṛddhānāṁ tāṁś ca pṛcchasi saṁśayān ||
噢，降伏仇敌者，世间谁能如你？忧苦不能动摇你，喜乐也不使你沉醉。长者敬重你；疑惑生起时，你便向他们请教。
O sagacious one, the primary duty of a kshatriya is to be crowned. This enables him to rule his subjects.
FAQs
Dharma here is emotional steadiness and humility: a leader should not be shaken by grief or inflated by pleasure, and should seek guidance from elders when uncertain.
Bharata is addressing Rama, praising his steadiness and reverence for elders as part of urging him to accept rightful kingship and the responsibilities of rule.
Rama’s equanimity (samatva) and teachability—he remains balanced in joy and sorrow and consults elders in moments of doubt.