Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 15
रामस्य राजमार्गगमनम्
Rama’s Progress along the Royal Highway
सर्वेषु हि स धर्मात्मा वर्णानां कुरुते दयाम्।।।।चतुर्णां हि वयः स्थानां तेन ते तमनुव्रताः।
sarveṣu hi sa dharmātmā varṇānāṃ kurute dayām | caturṇāṃ hi vayaḥ-sthānāṃ tena te tam anuvratāḥ ||
Pues aquel de alma justa muestra compasión a todos—en las cuatro varṇas y en las cuatro etapas de la vida; por eso el pueblo le era devoto.
That righteous Rama shows compassion to all, to the four castes, to the young and the old. So they were devoted to him.
FAQs
Dharma as inclusive compassion: a ruler-in-training must extend care beyond narrow identity—across social groups and ages—so that loyalty arises from justice and kindness.
The narrator explains why the public follows Rama: his compassion is universal, not selective.
Dayā (compassion) joined with dharma: Rama’s empathy is presented as the foundation of legitimate authority.