Shloka 3.9.10
सीताया धर्मोपदेशः—शस्त्रसंयोगदोषकथा (Sita’s Counsel on Dharma and the Peril of Weapon-Association)
प्रतिज्ञातस्त्वया वीर दण्डकारण्यवासिनाम्।।3.9.10।।ऋषीणां रक्षणार्थाय वधस्संयति रक्षसाम्।
pratijñātas tvayā vīra daṇḍakāraṇyavāsinām ||3.9.10||
ṛṣīṇāṃ rakṣaṇārthāya vadhaḥ saṃyati rakṣasām |
O valiant one, you have pledged to protect the sages dwelling in the Daṇḍaka forest by slaying the rākṣasas in battle.
O valiant one, you have promised to kill the demons in the battle, in order to protect the sages residing in the Dandaka forest.
Dharma is the kṣatriya obligation to protect the innocent and uphold the safety of ascetics; a vow made for protection must be carried out.
Sītā reminds Rāma of his declared mission in Daṇḍaka: defending sages by confronting hostile rākṣasas.
Rāma’s satya (truthfulness) and steadfastness in vows—his promise to protect is treated as binding.