Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 97: Rāma Instructs Lakṣmaṇa
Text 2.97.16
कथं नु पुत्राः पितरं हन्युः कस्यां चिदापदि।
भ्राता वा भ्रातरं हन्यात्सौमित्रे प्राणमात्मनः॥
kathaṁ nu putrāḥ pitaraṁ hanyuḥ kasyāñcid āpadi
bhrātā vā bhrātaraṁ hanyāt saumitre prāṇam ātmanaḥ
katham nu = how can; putrāḥ = sons; pitaram = their father; hanyuḥ = kill; kasyāñcit āpadi = even in a crisis; bhrātā = a brother; vā = or; bhrātaram = his brother; hanyāt = kill; saumitre = Saumitrī; prāṇam ātmanaḥ = dear to him as his very life.
Saumitrī, even in a crisis how can sons kill their father or a brother kill his brother dear to him as his very life?
Previously [Lakṣmaṇa] had said that he would kill Daśaratha. Now He is about to kill Bharata. If [Rāma] were to be silent further, [Lakṣmaṇa] might mess things up. Apprehending this danger, He suppresses [Lakṣmaṇa’s] ferocious attitude and restrains Him with this verse.