Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 11
अयोध्यावासिजनानुरागः
The People and Brahmins Follow Rama toward Exile
यथा यथा दाशरथि र्धर्म एवास्थितोऽभवत्।तथा तथा प्रकृतयो रामं पतिमकामयन्।।।।
yathā yathā dāśarathir dharma evāsthito 'bhavat |
tathā tathā prakṛtayo rāmaṃ patim akāmayan ||
The more Daśaratha’s son stood firmly in dharma alone, the more the subjects longed for Rāma as their lord and king.
The more the son of Dasaratha (Rama) committed to righteousness, the more the subjects desired that he should be their king.
FAQs
Political legitimacy arises from dharma: the ruler who is firmly established in righteousness naturally becomes the people’s choice.
The narrative describes the citizens’ increasing admiration and longing for Rāma’s rule as they witness his unwavering righteousness.
Rāma’s unwavering commitment to dharma—consistency in moral conduct that inspires public confidence.