Shloka 2.109.24
सत्यधर्मप्रतिपादनम् (Rama’s Defense of Truth and Dharma in Reply to Jabali)
कथं ह्यहं प्रतिज्ञाय वनवासमिमं गुरॊ:।
भरतस्य करिष्यामि वचो हित्वा गुरोर्वचः।।2.109.24।।
kathaṁ hy ahaṁ pratijñāya vana-vāsam imaṁ guroḥ |
bharatasya kariṣyāmi vaco hitvā guror vacaḥ ||2.109.24||
Having vowed before my father to dwell in the forest, how could I act on Bharata’s request, setting aside my father’s word?
Having sworn before my father that I would live in the forest, how can I act upon Bharata's request in disregard to my father's words?
Keeping one’s vow and honoring a father’s word is central to dharma; conflicting requests must yield to prior righteous commitment.
Bharata asks Rāma to return; Rāma states that doing so would violate the promise made to Daśaratha regarding exile.
Fidelity to vows (pratijñā-pālana) and filial righteousness.