Shloka 2.40.41
प्रयाणवर्णनम् (Departure from Ayodhya; Civic Lament and the Chariot’s Urgency)
पदातिनौ च यानार्हावदुःखार्हौ सुखोचितौ।दृष्ट्वा सञ्चोदयामास शीघ्रं याहीति सारथिम्।।।।
padātinau ca yānārhāv aduḥkhārhau sukhocitau |
dṛṣṭvā sañcodayāmāsa śīghraṃ yāhīti sārathim ||
Seeing his parents—fit for a chariot yet now walking on foot, accustomed to comfort and undeserving of sorrow—Rāma urged the charioteer, “Drive on quickly.”
Seeing his parents, who were worthy of riding a chariot now going on foot, who were accustomed to comforts and did not deserve any suffering, Rama urged his charioteer to drive fast.
Dharma here is compassionate restraint: Rāma recognizes that prolonging the painful sight for his parents increases suffering, so he chooses swift departure to minimize harm while still upholding his vow of exile.
As Rāma departs Ayodhyā for the forest, he sees his parents following in distress; he instructs the charioteer to move quickly.
Karunā (compassion) blended with maryādā (self-governed propriety): Rāma’s sensitivity to others’ pain even while he himself suffers.