अथोवाच महात्मानमिक्ष्वाकूणां महारथः॥ रामो मतिमतां श्रेष्ठः क्षत्रधर्ममनुस्मरन्। प्रतिग्रहोऽयं भगवन्ब्राह्मणस्याविगर्हितः।। क्षत्रियेण कथं विप्र प्रतिग्राह्यं भवेत्ततः। प्रतिग्रहो हि विप्रेन्द्र क्षत्रियाणां सुगर्हितः।। ब्राह्मणेन विशेषेण दत्तं तद्वक्तुमर्हसि।
athovāca mahātmānamikṣvākūṇāṃ mahārathaḥ|| rāmo matimatāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ kṣatradharmamanusmaran| pratigraho'yaṃ bhagavanbrāhmaṇasyāvigarhitaḥ|| kṣatriyeṇa kathaṃ vipra pratigrāhyaṃ bhavettataḥ| pratigraho hi viprendra kṣatriyāṇāṃ sugarhitaḥ|| brāhmaṇena viśeṣeṇa dattaṃ tadvaktumarhasi|
English Meaning
There upon meditating upon the duties of the Kşatriyas, the heroic Rāma, the foremost of the intelligent, said:-O illustrious Sir, the Brāhmaṇas only can accept presents— how can the Ksatriyas do? To take gifts is the function of the Brāhmaṇas—for Kşatriyas it is a source of censure. Besides, to receive presents from a Brahmana, is highly culpable. Do you therefore tell me, how I may accept this ornament.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)