Canto 2: Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa ()Chapter 111: Rāma Agrees to Accept the Throne After Returning to AyodhyāText 2.111.26
Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 111: Rāma Agrees to Accept the Throne After Returning to Ayodhyā
Text 2.111.26
यदि त्ववश्यं वस्तव्यं कर्तव्यं च पितुर्वचः।
अहमेव निवत्स्यामि चतुर्दश समा वने॥
yadi tv avaśyaṁ vastavyaṁ kartavyaṁ ca pitur vacaḥ
aham eva nivatsyāmi caturdaśa samā vane
yadi tu = if; avaśyam = are absolutely; vastavyam = residence in the forest; kartavyam = required; ca = and; pituḥ vacaḥ = You think that obedience to Our father’s words; aham eva = I Myself; nivatsyāmi = will reside; caturdaśa = for fourteen; samāḥ = years; vane = in the forest.
If You think that obedience to Our father’s words and residence in the forest are absolutely required, I Myself will reside in the forest for fourteen years.
Bharata implies that as Rāma’s representative, He would reside in the forest and as Bharata’s representative, Rāma should protect Ayodhyā. Then both of Them would have fully carried out Their father’s instructions.