Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 44
प्रयाणवर्णनम्
Departure from Ayodhya; Civic Lament and the Chariot’s Urgency
तथा रुदन्तीं कौसल्यां रथं तमनुधावतीम्।क्रोशन्तीं राम रामेति हा सीते लक्ष्मणेति च।।।।रामलक्ष्मणसीतार्थं स्रवन्तीं वारि नेत्रजम्।असकृत्प्रैक्षत तदा नृत्यन्तीमिव मातरम्।।।।
tathā rudantīṃ kausalyāṃ rathaṃ tam anudhāvatīm |
krośantīṃ rāma rāmēti hā sīte lakṣmaṇēti ca ||
rāmalakṣmaṇasītārthaṃ sravantīṃ vāri netrajam |
asakṛt praikṣata tadā nṛtyantīm iva mātaram ||
As Kauśalyā wept and ran after that chariot, crying, “Rāma, Rāma! Alas, Sītā! Lakṣmaṇa!” and shedding tears from her eyes for Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, and Sītā, Rāma again and again looked back at his mother, who in her anguish reeled as though she were dancing.
While Kausalya was weeping and running after the chariot, crying O 'Rama, O Sita, O Lakshmana, shedding tears for them, Rama repeatedly glanced at her who wastwisting and bending as if in a dancing pose.
FAQs
Dharma is shown as relational responsibility: even while following satya (truth/pledge) and duty, Rāma remains emotionally accountable—he repeatedly looks back, acknowledging his mother’s suffering.
Kauśalyā runs behind the departing chariot, calling out to Rāma, Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa; Rāma keeps glancing back at her.
Dayā (tender compassion) and filial sensitivity (mātuḥ-śuśrūṣā-bhāva), even amid unavoidable separation.