Shloka 3.7.23
सुतीक्ष्णाश्रमप्रवेशः — Entry into Sutikshna’s Hermitage
तमेवमुक्त्वोपरमं रामस्सन्ध्यामुपागमत्।।3.7.22।।अन्वास्य पश्चिमां संंध्यां तत्र वासमकल्पयत्।सुतीक्ष्णस्याश्रमे रम्ये सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च।।3.7.23।।
rāmo ’ham asmi bhagavan bhavantaṃ draṣṭum āgataḥ |
tvaṃ mām abhivada dharmajña maharṣe satyavikrama || 3.7.6 ||
“O Blessed One, I am Rāma; I have come to behold you. Please greet me, O great maharshi, knower of dharma, whose strength is truth.”
Rama stopped with this. And then the evening drew to a close. Offering his evening oblation, he arranged for his stay along with Sita and Lakshmana in the delightful hermitage of Sutikshna.
True dharma is aligned with satya: Rāma honors the sage as one whose power is truth, showing that moral authority rests on truthfulness and righteousness.
Rāma formally introduces himself to Sage Sutikṣṇa and requests a proper greeting, initiating their respectful meeting.
Courtesy and truth-centered respect—Rāma’s humility before a dharma-knowing sage.