Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 86: Guha Relates Rāma’s Pastimes on the Bank of Gaṅgā
Text 2.86.5
न हि रामात्प्रियतरो ममास्ति भुवि कश्चन।
मोत्सुको भूर्ब्रवीम्येतदप्यसत्यं तवाग्रतः॥
na hi rāmāt priyataro mamāsti bhuvi kaścana
motsuko bhūr bravīmy etad apy asatyaṁ tavāgrataḥ
na hi = none; rāmāt = than Rāma; priyataraḥ = dearer; mama = to me; asti = is; bhuvi = on earth; kaścana = there; mā = don’t; utsukaḥ bhūḥ = be eager [to render Him this service Yourself]; bravīmi etat1 = I speak; api = will; asatyam = untruth; tava = of You; agrataḥ = in front.
Don’t be eager [to render Him this service Yourself]. There is none on earth dearer to me than Rāma. Will I speak untruth in front of You?
1 Technical note: etat asatyam.
“Don’t be eager [to render Him this service Yourself]” means “Don’t be eager to protect Rāma this night.” “Will I tell You this untruthfully?” means “I will not tell You about this untruthfully.”