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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.98.64

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 98: Bharata’s appeal and Rāma’s answer. Bharata asks him to restore the Kingdom, Rāma teaches the inevitability of loss, separation and death

In the sequence: he says ruling and maintaining a household are appropriate duties for Rāma at this stage of life → he asks Vasiṣṭha to install Rāma there in the forest and offers once again to stay if Rāma will not return → Rāma remains firm, while the gathering joins Bharata's appeal.

2.98.64

ṛṇāni trīṇy apākurvan durhṛdaḥ sādhu nirdahan
suhṛdas tarpayan kāmais tvam evātrānuśādhi mām

Discharging the three debts, utterly burning up your enemies, and gratifying your friends with the fulfilment of their desires—rule me here yourself.

Words: ṛṇāni trīṇy — the three debts; apākurvan — discharging, paying off; durhṛdaḥ — the enemies (ill-hearted); sādhu nirdahan — thoroughly burning up; suhṛdas tarpayan — gratifying (your) friends; kāmais — with desired things; tvam evātrānuśādhi mām — you yourself, rule me here

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.