Shloka 3.7.9
सुतीक्ष्णाश्रमप्रवेशः — Entry into Sutikshna’s Hermitage
प्रतीक्षमाणस्त्वामेव नारोहेऽहं महायशः।देवलोकमितो वीर देहं त्यक्त्वा महीतले।चित्रकूटमुपादाय राज्यभ्रष्टोऽसि मे श्रुतः।।3.7.9।।
pratīkṣamāṇas tvām eva nārohe ’haṃ mahāyaśaḥ | devalokam ito vīra dehaṃ tyaktvā mahītale | citrakūṭam upādāya rājyabhraṣṭo ’si me śrutaḥ || 3.7.9 ||
O illustrious one, I have been waiting for you alone. O hero, I did not ascend from here to the world of the gods, even after casting off this body upon the earth—because I had heard that, deprived of your kingdom, you had come and taken refuge at Citrakūṭa.
O renowned hero, I had heard that you have come to Chitrakuta, renouncing yourkingdom. I have been waiting so long to see you here. Unable to give up this body, I did not even leave the earth for heaven, the world of the gods.
Dharma is shown as reverence for virtue: the sage values meeting the dhārmika Rāma more than personal spiritual ascent, implying that the presence of righteousness on earth is itself sacred.
The sage explains that he remained (did not depart to heaven) because he had heard of Rāma’s exile and residence at Citrakūṭa, and wished to see him.
Rāma’s steadfast adherence to duty despite loss of kingdom—his renunciation becomes widely known and draws the reverence of ascetics.