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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 3.9.17

Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 9: Rāma’s promise to the ṛṣis. He explains their refusal to spend tapasvin power on curses and declares that protecting them binds him more strongly than his own life

In the sequence: Rāma says he has therefore promised protection and cannot take that promise back

3.9.17

saṃśrutya ca na śakṣyāmi jīvamānaḥ pratiśravam
munīnām anyathā kartuṃ satyam iṣṭaṃ hi me sadā

And having so promised, I shall not, while I live, be able to make my pledge to the sages otherwise; for truth is ever dear to me.

Words: saṃśrutya — having promised; ca — and; na — not; śakṣyāmi — I shall be able; jīvamānaḥ — while living; pratiśravam — the pledge, promise; munīnām — to the sages; anyathā — otherwise; kartuṃ — to make; satyam — truth; iṣṭaṃ — dear, desired; hi — for, indeed; me — to me; sadā — ever, always

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.