Chapter 60 — Uttara Kanda, Sarga 60

Valmiki Ramayana — Uttara Kanda

Verse 60.12

बहवः पार्थिवा राजन्नातिक्रान्ता महाबलाः। कार्यस्य गौरवं मत्वा प्रतिज्ञां नाभ्यरोचयन्॥

bahavaḥ pārthivā rājannātikrāntā mahābalāḥ| kāryasya gauravaṃ matvā pratijñāṃ nābhyarocayan||

English Meaning

Many kings wielding great power have passed away who, having regard to the (possible) gravity of the undertaking, could not bring themselves to promise anything before hand.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)