Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 87, Shloka 15
गुहसंवादः—रामस्य रात्रिवासवर्णनम्
Dialogue with Guha: Account of Rama’s Night Halt
तत्सर्वं प्रत्यनुज्ञासीद्राम स्सत्यपराक्रमः।न तु तत्प्रत्यगृह्णात्स क्षत्रधर्ममनुस्मरन्।।।।
tat sarvaṃ pratyanujñāsīd rāmaḥ satyaparākramaḥ |
na tu tat pratyagṛhṇāt sa kṣatradharmam anusmaran ||
சத்தியப் பராக்கிரமன் ராமர் அவையனைத்தையும் கருணையுடன் ஏற்றுக் கொண்டதாகக் கூறினார்; ஆனால் க்ஷத்திரிய தர்மத்தை நினைந்து அந்தப் படையலை அவர் ஏற்கவில்லை।
Rama whose prowess is his truth, acknowledged all that but remembering the duty enjoined on a kshatriya did not accept them.
FAQs
Self-restraint aligned with svadharma: Rāma honors the giver but maintains the discipline expected of a kṣatriya living by principled austerity.
After Guha offers abundant food, Rāma responds courteously but refuses to receive it.
Rāma’s satya (truthfulness) and maryādā (propriety) expressed as disciplined refusal without disrespect.