Shloka 2.33.16
त्रयस्त्रिंशः सर्गः — Civic Lament and Rama’s Dutiful Approach to Daśaratha
ते लक्ष्मण इव क्षिप्रं सपत्न्य स्सहबान्धवाः।गच्छन्तमनुगच्छामो येन गच्छति राघवः।।।।
te lakṣmaṇa iva kṣipraṃ sapatnyaḥ sahabāndhavāḥ | gacchantam anugacchāmo yena gacchati rāghavaḥ ||
Let us, like Lakṣmaṇa, swiftly follow Rāghava as he goes—together with our wives and our kinsfolk—by whatever path he takes.
Let all of us without delay along with our wives and relations follow Rama, like Lakshmana, wherever he goes.
Dharma is expressed as allegiance to righteousness: when institutional decisions deviate, people feel compelled to align themselves with the dharmic person rather than the unjust command.
Overwhelmed by grief, the citizens resolve to accompany Rāma into exile, taking Lakṣmaṇa’s devoted following as their model.
Lakṣmaṇa’s unwavering loyalty and service (sevā-bhāva), held up as the ideal response to Rāma’s suffering.