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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.40.23

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 40: The citizens follow to the Tamasā. Rāma asks them to support Bharata, then leaves his chariot to walk beside the elderly brāhmaṇas

In the sequence: the brāhmaṇas explain that they have brought their sacred fires and the white parasols earned through Vājapeya sacrifices, which they offer to hold over him for shade

2.40.23

hṛdayeṣv avatiṣṭhante vedā ye naḥ paraṃ dhanam
vatsyanty api gṛheṣv eva dārāś cāritrarakṣitāḥ

The Vedas, which are our highest wealth, abide in our hearts; and our wives, guarded by their own virtue, will surely remain at home.

Words: hṛdayeṣv — in our hearts; avatiṣṭhante — abide, remain; vedā — the Vedas; ye — which; naḥ — our; paraṃ — highest, supreme; dhanam — wealth; vatsyanty — will dwell, stay; api — indeed; gṛheṣv — in the houses; eva — just, surely; dārāś — the wives; cāritrarakṣitāḥ — protected by their virtue

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki. 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.