Shloka 2.57.34
सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः — Sumantra’s Return to Ayodhya and the Palace’s Lament
तत स्तमन्तःपुरनादमुत्थितं समीक्ष्य वृद्धा स्तरुणाश्च मानवाः।स्त्रियश्च सर्वा रुरुदु स्समन्ततः पुरं तदासीत्पुनरेव सङ्कुलम्।।।।
sa vanāni sugandhīni saritaś ca sarāṁsi ca |
paśyann atiyayau śīghraṁ grāmāṇi nagarāṇi ca ||
He hastened onward, gazing as he went upon the fragrant forests, the rivers and lakes, and also the villages and towns along the way.
Having heard the sound emanating from the inner apartment, people, old, young and women, of the city lamented. The city was crowded again.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē saptapañcāśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the fiftyseventh sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
Dharma here is expressed as dutiful perseverance: even amid sorrowful duty (returning without Rāma), Sumantra continues his task without abandoning responsibility.
After leaving Rāma in exile, Sumantra travels back toward Ayodhyā, passing landscapes and settlements on the route.
Steadfastness and duty (kartavya-niṣṭhā) in Sumantra—he keeps moving forward despite inner distress.