Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 21
प्रयाणवर्णनम्
Departure from Ayodhya; Civic Lament and the Chariot’s Urgency
पार्श्वतः पृष्ठतश्चापि लम्बमानास्तदुन्मुखाः।बाष्पपूर्णमुखास्सर्वे तमूचुर्भृशनिस्वनाः।।।।
pārśvataḥ pṛṣṭhataś cāpi lambamānās tad-unmukhāḥ | bāṣpa-pūrṇa-mukhāḥ sarve tam ūcur bhṛśa-nisvanāḥ ||
Clinging to the chariot from the sides and from behind, all of them—faces brimming with tears, voices choked by deep sobbing—spoke to Sumantra.
All the people hanging from the chariot from behind and by the sides, heaving deeply, their faces covered with tears, thus addressed to Sumantra:
FAQs
It shows the dharmic bond between ruler and subjects: their grief is not mere emotion, but a response to the loss of righteous protection and moral order.
Citizens physically surround and cling to the moving chariot and then address Sumantra, pleading through tears.
Collective loyalty and devotion to a dharmic prince; also the restraint of addressing the charioteer as a practical mediator.