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=== राजधर्मनिष्ठा ॥ Allegiance to Raja Dharma ===

=== राजधर्मनिष्ठा ॥ Allegiance to Raja Dharma ===

According to the story of the Ramayana, Sri Rama being the eldest son of Dasharatha was to be crowned as the king of Ayodhya in accordance with the Rule of Primogeniture incorporated in Raja Dharma. However, it so happened that on account of the demand made by Kaikeyi, the mother of Bharata, in terms of the promise to grant her whatever she asked for by the king Dasharata and the latter being firmly committed to keep up his words, had no other alternative but to cancel the coronation ceremony of Sri Rama and to ask him to go away to the forest for fourteen years and also to crown Bharata as the king of Ayodhya. Bharata had the golden opportunity of securing political power and becoming the king of Ayodhya by superseding the claim of Rama, once and for all, if allurement of power prevailed in his mind over Raja Dharma -constitutional convention. The general impression is that it was the intense love of Bharata towards his elder brother Sri Rama, which prevented Bharata from ascending the throne. It may be partly true, but the real reason for Bharata to refuse to ascend the throne was the Rule of Primogeniture laid down as part of Raja Dharma and his firm commitment not to transgress Raja Dharma. This is discernible from the firm stand taken by him when he was requested to become the king of Ayodhya.

According to the story of the Ramayana, Sri Rama being the eldest son of Dasharatha was to be crowned as the Raja of Ayodhya in accordance with the Rule of Primogeniture incorporated in Raja Dharma. However, it so happened that on account of the demand made by Kaikeyi, the mother of Bharata, in terms of the promise to grant her whatever she asked for by Raja Dasharatha and the latter being firmly committed to keep up his words, had no other alternative but to cancel the coronation ceremony of Sri Rama and to ask him to go away to the forest for fourteen years and also to crown Bharata as the Raja of Ayodhya. Bharata had the golden opportunity of securing political power and becoming the Raja of Ayodhya by superseding the claim of Rama, once and for all, if allurement of power prevailed in his mind over Raja Dharma or constitutional convention. The general impression is that it was the intense love of Bharata towards his elder brother Sri Rama, which prevented Bharata from ascending the throne. It may be partly true, but the real reason for Bharata to refuse to ascend the throne was the Rule of Primogeniture laid down as part of Raja Dharma and his firm commitment not to transgress Raja Dharma. This is discernible from the firm stand taken by him when he was requested to become the Raja of Ayodhya.

After the return of Bharatha from Mithila, the Council of Ministers appraised Bharatha of the unfortunate events which had already taken place during his absence, which had led to the cancellation of the coronation of Rama and his exile to the forest and the death of Dasharatha and the proposal to crown Bharata as the King of Ayodhya. Bharata unaffected by the lure of office of kingship stated thus:<blockquote>ज्येष्ठस्य राजता नित्यम् उचिता हि कुलस्य नः । न एवम् भवन्तः माम् वक्तुम् अर्हन्ति कुशला जनाः ॥२-७९-७॥</blockquote><blockquote>रामः पूर्वो हि नो भ्राता भविष्यति मही पतिः । अहम् तु अरण्ये वत्स्यामि वर्षाणि नव पन्च च ॥२-७९-८॥<ref>Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AD%E0%A5%AF Sarga 79].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''jyeṣṭhasya rājatā nityam ucitā hi kulasya naḥ । na evam bhavantaḥ mām vaktum arhanti kuśalā janāḥ ॥2-79-7॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''rāmaḥ pūrvo hi no bhrātā bhaviṣyati mahī patiḥ । aham tu araṇye vatsyāmi varṣāṇi nava panca ca ॥2-79-8॥''</blockquote>Meaning: The convention that the eldest son of the king alone should succeed to the throne has been firmly established and has been regarded as a commendable rule of succession. Therefore, you, being well versed in the convention ought not to request me to ascend the throne. Sri Rama being the eldest son of the king, he alone shall be the ruler. I would rather reside in the forest for fourteen years (instead of Sri Rama).

After the return of Bharata from Mithila, the Council of Ministers appraised him of the unfortunate events which had already taken place during his absence, which had led to the cancellation of the coronation of Rama and his exile to the forest and the death of Dasharatha and the proposal to crown Bharata as the Raja of Ayodhya. Bharata unaffected by the lure of office of kingship stated, <blockquote>ज्येष्ठस्य राजता नित्यम् उचिता हि कुलस्य नः । न एवम् भवन्तः माम् वक्तुम् अर्हन्ति कुशला जनाः ॥२-७९-७॥</blockquote><blockquote>रामः पूर्वो हि नो भ्राता भविष्यति मही पतिः । अहम् तु अरण्ये वत्स्यामि वर्षाणि नव पन्च च ॥२-७९-८॥<ref>Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AD%E0%A5%AF Sarga 79].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''jyeṣṭhasya rājatā nityam ucitā hi kulasya naḥ । na evam bhavantaḥ mām vaktum arhanti kuśalā janāḥ ॥2-79-7॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''rāmaḥ pūrvo hi no bhrātā bhaviṣyati mahī patiḥ । aham tu araṇye vatsyāmi varṣāṇi nava panca ca ॥2-79-8॥''</blockquote>Meaning: The convention that the eldest son of the Raja alone should succeed to the throne has been firmly established and has been regarded as a commendable rule of succession. Therefore, you, being well versed in the convention ought not to request me to ascend the throne. Sri Rama being the eldest son of the Raja, he alone shall be the ruler. I would rather reside in the forest for fourteen years (instead of Sri Rama).

Having firmly stated as above to the council of ministers, Bharata proceeded to Chitrakoot where Sri. Raffia was staying. Here again Sri Raffia, the eldest son and the rightful heir exhorted Bharata agree to be crowned and become the king respecting the words of 'mother Kaikeyi and father Dasharatha. Bharatha's faith in and allegiance to the constitution were in very firm and he was of the view that it could not be changed or amended ~ the king or the queen. Bharata replied thus:-<blockquote>रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा भरत: प्रत्युवाच ह । किं मे धर्माद्विहीनस्य राजधर्म: करिष्यति ।। २.१०१.१ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>शाश्वतो ऽयं सदा धर्म्म: स्थितो ऽस्मासु नरर्षभ । ज्येष्ठपुत्रे स्थिते राजन्न कनीयान् नृपो भवेत् ।। २.१०१.२ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>स समृद्धां मया सार्द्धमयोध्यां गच्छ राघव । अभिषेचय चात्मानं कुलस्यास्य भवाय न: ।। २.१०१.३ ।।<ref>Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A7 Sarga 101].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''rāmasya vacanaṁ śrutvā bharata: pratyuvāca ha । kiṁ me dharmādvihīnasya rājadharma: kariṣyati ।। 2.101.1 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''śāśvato 'yaṁ sadā dharmma: sthito 'smāsu nararṣabha । jyeṣṭhaputre sthite rājanna kanīyān nr̥po bhavet ।। 2.101.2 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''sa samr̥ddhāṁ mayā sārddhamayodhyāṁ gaccha rāghava । abhiṣecaya cātmānaṁ kulasyāsya bhavāya na: ।। 2.101.3 ।।''</blockquote>Meaning: How can the rule prescribed for succession he violated? I am out side the range of that code. I have no right to occupy the throne being the younger son of the king Emperor. The rule is that the eldest son alone can succeed to the throne. Oh. Jewel among Men, so long as the eldest son is alive, I can never be the king. Therefore return with me to Ayodhya.

Having firmly stated as above to the council of ministers, Bharata proceeded to Chitrakoota where Sri Rama was staying. Here again, Sri Rama, the eldest son and the rightful heir exhorted Bharata to agree to be crowned and become the Raja respecting the words of 'mother Kaikeyi and father Dasharatha. However, Bharata's faith in and allegiance to the Raja Dharma very firm and he was of the view that it could not be changed or amended. He thus replied,<blockquote>रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा भरत: प्रत्युवाच ह । किं मे धर्माद्विहीनस्य राजधर्म: करिष्यति ।। २.१०१.१ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>शाश्वतोऽयं सदा धर्मः स्थितोऽस्मासु नरर्षभ । ज्येष्ठपुत्रे स्थिते राजन्न कनीयान् नृपो भवेत् ।। २.१०१.२ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>स समृद्धां मया सार्द्धमयोध्यां गच्छ राघव । अभिषेचय चात्मानं कुलस्यास्य भवाय न: ।। २.१०१.३ ।।<ref>Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A7 Sarga 101].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''rāmasya vacanaṁ śrutvā bharata: pratyuvāca ha । kiṁ me dharmādvihīnasya rājadharma: kariṣyati ।। 2.101.1 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''śāśvato'yaṁ sadā dharmaḥ sthito'smāsu nararṣabha । jyeṣṭhaputre sthite rājanna kanīyān nr̥po bhavet ।। 2.101.2 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''sa samr̥ddhāṁ mayā sārddhamayodhyāṁ gaccha rāghava । abhiṣecaya cātmānaṁ kulasyāsya bhavāya na: ।। 2.101.3 ।।''</blockquote>Meaning: How can the rule prescribed for succession be violated ? I am outside the range of that code. I have no right to occupy the throne being the younger son of the Emperor. The rule is that the eldest son alone can succeed to the throne. Oh jewel among men ! so long as the eldest son is alive, I can never be the Raja. Therefore, return with me to Ayodhya.

Despite the advice of the council of ministers, the desire of mother Kaikeyi granted by king Dasharatha and, more than all the exhortation by Sri. Raffia himself, who was the constitutional successor to the throne, Bharata would not budge, as none of these could alter Raja Dharma.

Despite the advice of the council of ministers, the desire of mother Kaikeyi granted by Raja Dasharatha and, more than all that, the exhortation by Sri Rama himself, who was the constitutional successor to the throne, Bharata would not budge, as none of these could alter Raja Dharma.

This firm commitment to Raja Dharma and the refusal to secure or accept power by Bharata is all the more relevant now and serves as an example even to present day rulers to remain true to their Dharma.

This firm commitment to Raja Dharma and the refusal to secure or accept power by Bharata is all the more relevant now and serves as an example even to present day rulers to remain true to their Dharma.