Shloka 2.17.14
रामस्य राजमार्गगमनम् (Rama’s Progress along the Royal Highway)
यश्च रामं न पश्येत्तु यं च रामो न पश्यति।।।।निन्दित स्सर्वल्लोकेषु स्वात्माऽप्येनं विगर्हते।
yaś ca rāmaṃ na paśyet tu yaṃ ca rāmo na paśyati | ninditaḥ sarva-lokeṣu svātmā 'py enaṃ vigarhate ||
Whoever does not behold Rāma—or whom Rāma does not behold—becomes censured in all worlds; even his own conscience condemns him.
'Whoever does not see Rama or Rama does not see him, will be blamed by all men in the (three) worlds. Even his self will blame him.
Dharma is tied to moral recognition: to be aligned with the righteous is to be uplifted; alienation from righteousness leads to social and inner reproach (conscience).
The narration reflects how strongly society values seeing Rama and being seen by him, treating his regard as a mark of worth.
Rama’s moral centrality: his presence functions as a standard by which people measure their own standing.