Shloka 2.17.22
रामस्य राजमार्गगमनम् (Rama’s Progress along the Royal Highway)
तस्मिन् प्रविष्टे पितुरन्तिकं तदा जन स्स सर्वो मुदितो नृपात्मजे।प्रतीक्षते तस्य पुनः स्म निर्गमं यथोदयं चन्द्रमसस्सरित्पतिः।।।।
tasmin praviṣṭe pitur antikaṃ tadā janaḥ sa sarvo mudito nṛpātmaje |
pratīkṣate tasya punaḥ sma nirgamaṃ yathodayaṃ candramasaḥ saritpatiḥ ||
When the king’s son entered his father’s presence, all the people rejoiced; and they waited for his reappearance—like the ocean awaiting the moon’s rise.
When the prince approached his father all the people were delighted and awaited his return like the ocean waiting for the rise of the Moon.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē saptadaśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the seventeenth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
Social trust in righteous rule: the people’s joy reflects their faith that Rāma embodies dharma and will uphold truthful, beneficent governance.
After Rāma enters to meet Daśaratha, the crowd remains outside, delighted, waiting for him to come back out.
Rāma’s moral authority—his presence inspires collective hope and confidence in dharmic leadership.