Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 22
प्रयाणवर्णनम्
Departure from Ayodhya; Civic Lament and the Chariot’s Urgency
संयच्छ वाजिनां रश्मीन् सूत याहि शनैश्शनैः।मुखं द्रक्ष्याम रामस्य दुर्दर्शं नो भविष्यति।।।।
saṃyaccha vājīnāṃ raśmīn sūta yāhi śanaiḥ śanaiḥ | mukhaṃ drakṣyāma rāmasya durdarśaṃ no bhaviṣyati ||
«Auriga, sujeta las riendas de los caballos; avanza despacio, muy despacio, para que podamos contemplar el rostro de Rāma: pronto nos será difícil verlo.»
O charioteer, control the reins of the horses and go slow so that we may look at the face of Rama, for soon we will not be able to see him.
FAQs
Dharma is tied to darśana (the sustaining sight of the righteous): the people seek one last vision of Rāma, whose truthfulness and virtue stabilize their moral world.
As the chariot moves away, the citizens beg Sumantra to slow down so they can keep seeing Rāma’s face.
Rāma’s moral radiance (satya-dharma): his very presence is treated as a source of strength and consolation.