Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 33
प्रयाणवर्णनम्
Departure from Ayodhya; Civic Lament and the Chariot’s Urgency
निर्गच्छति महाबाहौ रामे पौरजनाश्रुभिः।पतितैरभ्यवहितं प्रशशाम महीरजः।।।।
nirgacchati mahābāhau rāme paurajanāśrubhiḥ | patitair abhyavahitaṃ praśaśāma mahīrajaḥ ||
As the mighty-armed Rāma departed, the dust raised from the earth was settled and subdued by the citizens’ tears as they fell.
As the mighty-armed Rama was going away, the dust raised from the earth subsided with the tears falling from the citizens' (eyes).
FAQs
Dharma is shown through collective empathy: the people’s tears reflect moral attachment to a righteous prince and sorrow at the cost of truth-keeping and duty.
Rāma’s chariot moves away, raising dust; the citizens’ weeping is so intense that it metaphorically (and physically) dampens and settles the dust.
The citizens’ devotion and compassion—recognition of Rāma’s virtue and suffering in dharmic exile.