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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 3.1.18

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

3.1.18

indrasyaiva caturbhāgaḥ prajā rakṣati rāghava
rājā tasmād vanān bhogān bhuṅkte lokanamaskṛtaḥ

A very quarter-portion of Indra, the king protects his subjects, O Rāghava; therefore, honoured by the world, he enjoys choice pleasures.

Words: indrasyaiva — of Indra himself; caturbhāgaḥ — a quarter-portion; prajā — subjects, the people; rakṣati — protects; rāghava — O Rāghava; rājā — the king; tasmād — therefore; vanān — choice, excellent; bhogān — pleasures, enjoyments; bhuṅkte — enjoys; lokanamaskṛtaḥ — honoured by the world

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.