Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 87: Further Conversation Between Bharata and Guha
Text 2.87.16
तत्सर्वं प्रत्यनुज्ञासीद्रामः सत्यपराक्रमः।
न तु तत्प्रत्यगृह्णात्स क्षत्रधर्ममनुस्मरन्॥
tat sarvaṁ pratyanujñāsīd rāmaḥ satya-parākramaḥ
na tu tat pratyagṛhṇāt sa kṣatra-dharmam anusmaran
tat sarvam = all of that; pratyanujñāsīt = acknowledged; rāmaḥ = Rāma; satya-parākramaḥ = who was truly mighty acknowledged; na = did not; tu = but; tat = them; pratyagṛhṇāt = accept; saḥ1 kṣatra-dharmam = the dharma of kṣatriyas; anusmaran = while remembering.
Rāma who was truly mighty acknowledged all of that but did not accept them while remembering the dharma of kṣatriyas.
1 Technical note: saḥ rāmaḥ.
Rāma acknowledged all of that but did not accept them, that is, He returned them [to Guha saying], “Please take [these] back.”
Kṣatriyas are dutybound to give charity and not receive charity. [This is their dharma.]
GLOSS. Another dharma of the kṣatriyas is to maintain [their promises such as the promise,] “I will reside in the forest only by [eating] forest food.”