Shloka 2.45.4
अयोध्यावासिजनानुरागः — The People and Brahmins Follow Rama toward Exile
स याच्यमानः काकुत्स्थः स्वाभिः प्रकृतिभिस्तदा।कुर्वाणः पितरं सत्यं वनमेवान्वपद्यत।।।।
avekṣamāṇaḥ sa-snehaṃ cakṣuṣā prapibann iva |
uvāca rāmaḥ snehena tāḥ prajāḥ svāḥ prajā iva ||
Gazing on them with affection—as though drinking them in with his eyes—Rāma spoke tenderly to the people, as to his own children.
Although entreated by his subjects (not to go) Rama proceeded to the forest to make his father's vow come true.
The dharma of leadership includes compassion: even while fulfilling a hard duty, Rāma responds to his people with parental care and emotional responsibility.
On the path of exile, Rāma sees the grieving citizens and prepares to address them, acknowledging their love and pain.
Empathy and protective affection: Rāma treats the subjects not merely as a crowd, but as dependents worthy of tenderness.