Shloka 2.118.6
अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा (Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative)
सकृद्दृष्टास्वपि स्त्रिषु नृपेण नृपवत्सलः।मातृवद्वर्तते वीरो मानमुत्सृज्य धर्मवित्।।2.118.6।।
dīyamānāṁ na tu tadā pratijagrāha rāghavaḥ | avijñāya pituś chandaṁ ayodhyā-adhipateḥ prabhoḥ || 2.118.51 ||
But at that moment Rāghava did not accept me as I was being offered, not yet knowing the intention of his father—the lord, king of Ayodhyā.
Heroic Rama is affectionate towards king Dasaratha and is conversant with righteousness. Renouncing the sense of self-respect he honours all the women on whom his father had cast his glance even once just as his own mother.
Dharma requires honoring parental authority and proper consent: Rāma restrains himself until he knows his father’s will.
Sītā narrates that although she was being offered, Rāma did not immediately accept because he awaited Daśaratha’s approval.
Obedience and self-control—Rāma’s commitment to maryādā, placing duty over immediacy.