Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 106, Shloka 20
भरतवाक्यं—रामस्य पुनरायोध्यागमननिषेधः
Bharata’s Plea and Rama’s Refusal to Return
कश्च प्रत्यक्षमुत्सृज्य संशयस्थ मलक्षणम्।आयतिस्थं चरे द्धर्मं क्षत्रबन्दुरनिश्चितम्।।।।
kaś ca pratyakṣam utsṛjya saṁśayastham alakṣaṇam |
āyatisthaṁ cared dharmaṁ kṣatrabandhur aniścitam ||
又有谁身为刹帝利，会舍弃眼前明白的职责，反去追逐那不确定的“修行”，疑虑重重且不祥，其果报又在遥远的未来？
Will any kshatriya, setting aside his first duty, follow an uncertain course of piety which is contrary to his dharma and whose impact may be felt in a remote future.
FAQs
Dharma is framed as one’s immediate, role-based obligation (svadharma), not a speculative or inappropriate path that neglects present responsibilities.
Bharata challenges the idea that Rama should avoid kingship; he argues that forsaking manifest royal duty for uncertain alternatives is improper for a kṣatriya.
Bharata’s moral clarity and insistence on svadharma—he prioritizes responsible governance over ambiguous ideals.