जय श्रीराम!
स हि प्रथमजे तस्मिन्नकृतश्रीपरिग्रहे ।
परवेत्तारमात्मानं मेने स्वीकरणाद्भुवः ॥१२.१६॥
Notes: Bharata appealed in a hundred ways to Śrīrāma to take up the reins of the kingdom at once. Their dialogue as described by Sage Vālmīki is gripping. Bharata considers himself, as per Kālidāsa, to be committing a sin by taking over/marrying the kingdom when his elder brother was not yet a king/married to any kingdom. Literally,
"Bharata considered that, when the elder brother had refused to take over the reins of the kingdom, if Bharata were to accept the kingship, he would become a Paravettṛ ( a type of sinner)."
Bharata has many arguments. One thought that torments him is the issue of Dharma. How can a younger brother take charge of the kingdom, i.e. metaphorically marry the kingdom, when the elder brother is not yet made the king, i.e. is unmarried to any kingdom? Apparently, as Kālidāsa says here, it was considered a sin for a younger brother to marry before an elder brother. Such a sinner was called परवेत्तृ Paravettṛ. All these societal norms were meant to uphold the Dharma of the family, kingdom and society.
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जय श्रीराम!
