Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 47, Shloka 6
अयोध्यायाः पौरविलापः
Lament of the Citizens of Ayodhya on Rama’s Absence
यो नः सदा पालयति पिता पुत्रानिवौरसान्।कथं रघूणां स श्रेष्ठस्त्यक्त्वा नो विपिनं गतः।।।।
yo naḥ sadā pālayati pitā putrān ivaurasān | kathaṃ raghūṇāṃ sa śreṣṭhas tyaktvā no vipinaṃ gataḥ ||
He who ever protected us, as a father guards his own true-born sons—how could the best of the Raghus forsake us and go to the forest?
Fie on this sleep which robbed us of our senses. We are unable to see (now) that broad-chested and mighty-armed Rama.
FAQs
It underscores rājadharma: the ruler’s duty is protective care, likened to a father’s duty toward children.
Citizens recall Rāma’s protective nature and cannot comprehend his forest-exile departure.
Rāma’s guardianship and benevolence—treating subjects with familial responsibility.