Shloka 1.1.39
श्रीमद्रामायणकथासङ्क्षेपः / The Ramayana in Synopsis (Narada’s Summary to Valmiki)
गते तु भरते श्रीमान् सत्यसन्धो जितेन्द्रिय: ।।।।रामस्तु पुनरालक्ष्य नागरस्य जनस्य च ।तत्रागमनमेकाग्रो दण्डकान्प्रविवेश ह ।।।।
gate tu bharate śrīmān satyasaṃdho jitendriyaḥ || 1.1.39 ||
rāmas tu punar ālakṣya nāgarasya janasya ca |
tatrāgamanam ekāgro daṇḍakān praviveśa ha || 1.1.40 ||
When Bharata had departed, Rāma—radiant, steadfast in truth, and master of his senses—again perceived that the townspeople and others would come there; single-minded in keeping his vow, he entered the Daṇḍaka forest.
When Bharata departed, Sri Rama, a man of good fortune and steadfast in vows one who had conquered under control perceiving that the citizens from Ayodhya would arrive there, entered the Dandaka forest with single minded determination (so that there would not be breach of his promise).
Protecting a vow as dharma: Rāma avoids circumstances that might pressure him into breaking his promise, showing that truthfulness requires foresight and disciplined action.
After Bharata leaves, Rāma anticipates further arrival of citizens at Citrakūṭa and therefore proceeds into the Daṇḍaka forest to preserve the exile vow.
Rāma’s self-mastery and resolve (jitendriyatā, ekāgratā) in service of satya and dharma.