Shloka 3.6.20
षष्ठस्सर्गः — तपस्विरक्षणे राजधर्मोपदेशः (Sarga 6: The Sages’ Appeal and Instruction on Royal Duty)
परा त्वत्तो गतिर्वीर पृथिव्यां नोपपद्यते।परिपालय न स्सर्वान्राक्षसेभ्यो नृपात्मज।।।।
parā tvatto gatir vīra pṛthivyāṃ nopapadyate | paripālaya naḥ sarvān rākṣasebhyo nṛpātmaja ||
O hero, on this earth no higher refuge than you is to be found. Therefore, O prince, protect all of us from the rākṣasas.
O great warrior here on this earth there is no protector as mighty as you. So, O prince save us all from these demons.
It frames protection of the vulnerable as a central duty: the righteous seek a dharmic protector, and the prince’s duty is to answer that call.
The sages intensify their appeal by declaring Rāma the foremost refuge available to them.
Trustworthiness and strength aligned with dharma—power that exists to guard, not to dominate.