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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.101.26

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 101: Rāma rejects Jābāli’s advice. A ruler’s actions guide his subjects, truth sustains trust and no worldly gain justifies breaking his father’s promise

In the sequence: he renews his intention to live with restraint in the forest and fulfill the vow through his own actions.

2.101.26

vanavāsaṃ vasann evaṃ śucir niyatabhojanaḥ
mūlaiḥ puṣpaiḥ phalaiḥ puṇyaiḥ pitṝn devāṃś ca tarpayan

Dwelling thus in forest exile, pure and of restrained diet, gratifying the ancestors and gods with roots, flowers, and holy fruits,

Words: vanavāsaṃ — the forest-dwelling; vasann evaṃ — dwelling thus; śucir — pure; niyatabhojanaḥ — of restrained diet; mūlaiḥ — with roots; puṣpaiḥ — with flowers; phalaiḥ puṇyaiḥ — with holy fruits; pitṝn devāṃś ca — the ancestors and gods; tarpayan — gratifying, satisfying

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.