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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 3.1.17
Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 1: Daṇḍaka’s tapasvins seek protection. They welcome Rāma, Sītā & Lakṣmaṇa and claim the King’s protection as subjects who have renounced force
In the sequence: they explain that a King's authority carries the duty of protection: even in the forest, they remain his subjects → because they have renounced force and mastered their anger, they depend upon him for safety
3.1.17
dharmapālo janasyāsya śaraṇyaś ca mahāyaśāḥ
pūjanīyaś ca mānyaś ca rājā daṇḍadharo guruḥ
The king, guardian of dharma, is the protector of these people and their refuge, of great renown, to be worshipped and honoured; wielder of the rod of justice, he is their elder.
Words: dharmapālo — guardian of dharma; janasyāsya — of these people; śaraṇyaś — a refuge; ca — and; mahāyaśāḥ — of great renown; pūjanīyaś — to be worshipped; ca — and; mānyaś — to be honoured; ca — and; rājā — the king; daṇḍadharo — wielder of the rod (of justice); guruḥ — elder, venerable one
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.