Shloka 3.1.5
तापसाश्रममण्डलदर्शनम् (Entering Dandaka and Meeting the Sages)
पूजितं च प्रनृत्तं च नित्यमप्सरसां गणैः।विशालैरग्निशरणैः स्रुग्भाण्डैरजिनैः कुशैः।।3.1.4।।समिद्भिस्तोयकलशैः फलमूलैश्च शोभितम्।आरण्यैश्च महावृक्षैः पुण्यैस्स्वादुफलैर्वृतम्।।3.1.5।।
nyasta-daṇḍā vayaṃ rājan jita-krodhā jitendriyāḥ |
rakṣaṇīyās tvayā śaśvad agarbha-bhūtās tapodhanāḥ ||
O King, we have laid aside the rod of coercion; we have conquered anger and mastered the senses. We ascetics—whose wealth is austerity—are ever to be protected by you, as though we were your own children.
The hermitages looked glorified with dances by celestial damsels. They were adorned with vast fire sanctuaries, ladles for sacrificial ceremonies, deerskins and kusa grass faggots for pots of water, roots and fruits. They looked delightful with huge sacred trees of the forest laden with sweet fruits.
A division of dharmic roles: ascetics renounce force (nyasta-daṇḍa) and cultivate restraint, while the kṣatriya’s dharma is to protect them. Non-violence in the āśrama is supported by righteous protection from outside threats.
The sages clarify why they cannot retaliate against aggressors: their vows require restraint, so they appeal to Rāma’s royal duty to safeguard them.
The sages’ self-control (jitendriya, jitakrodha) and Rāma’s paternal guardianship implied by ‘like your children’—a model of compassionate authority.