Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 109: Rāma Refutes Jābāli
Text 2.109.24
कथं ह्यहं प्रतिज्ञाय वनवासमिमं गुरौ।
भरतस्य करिष्यामि वचो हित्वा गुरोर्वचः॥
kathaṁ hy ahaṁ pratijñāya vana-vāsam imaṁ gurau
bharatasya kariṣyāmi vaco hitvā guror vacaḥ
katham hi = how; aham = I have; pratijñāya = promised; vana-vāsam = I will reside in the forest; imam = that; gurau = My authority; bharatasya = Bharata’s; kariṣyāmi = to carry out; vacaḥ = request; hitvā = can I give up; guroḥ = of My authority; vacaḥ = the instruction.
I have promised My authority that I will reside in the forest, How can I give up the instruction of My authority to carry out Bharata’s request?