Valmiki Ramayana Bala Kanda Sarga 37 Shloka 3
Original Shlokaयो न स्सेनापतिर्देव दत्तो भगवता पुरा। तप: परममास्थाय तप्यते स्म सहोमया।।1.37.3।।
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देव O lord, भगवता by the venerable one (you), पुरा formerly (at the time of creation), न: for us, य: सेनापति: that army general, दत्त: was given, उमया सह with Uma, परमम् great, तप: religious observance, आस्थाय having adopted, तप्यते is practising austerities.
"O Lord in ancient times your lordship gave us an army general (at the time of creation). He is engrossed in great penance along with Uma .