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एवमुक्तः स पितृभिः पितॄन्रामोऽब्रवीदिदम् । नाहं युधि निवर्तेयमिति मे व्रतमाहितम्॥५-१८६-२१॥
Thus addressed by the Pitṛs, the ancestral fathers, Rāma replied to them: “My vow is established—I shall not withdraw in battle.”
english translation
न निवर्तितपूर्वं च कदाचिद्रणमूर्धनि । निवर्त्यतामापगेयः कामं युद्धात्पितामहाः । न त्वहं विनिवर्तिष्ये युद्धादस्मात्कथंचन॥५-१८६-२२॥
“Never before have I withdrawn, at any time, from the forefront of combat. Let Āpageya retreat from the engagement if he so desires, O grandfathers; but I will not withdraw from this battle under any circumstance.”
english translation
ततस्ते मुनयो राजन्नृचीकप्रमुखास्तदा । नारदेनैव सहिताः समागम्येदमब्रुवन्॥५-१८६-२३॥
Then, O king, those sages—led by Ṛcīka—together with Nārada, assembled and spoke as follows.
english translation
निवर्तस्व रणात्तात मानयस्व द्विजोत्तमान् । नेत्यवोचमहं तांश्च क्षत्रधर्मव्यपेक्षया॥५-१८६-२४॥
“Withdraw from the battle, dear one; honor the foremost of the twice-born.” I answered them, “No,” mindful of the obligations of kṣatriya-dharma.
english translation
मम व्रतमिदं लोके नाहं युद्धात्कथंचन । विमुखो विनिवर्तेयं पृष्ठतोऽभ्याहतः शरैः॥५-१८६-२५॥
“This is my vow before the world: in no way will I withdraw from battle, turning away to be struck by arrows from behind.”
english translation