Valmiki Ramayana 2.57.14: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 14
सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः · Sumantra’s Return to Ayodhya and the Palace’s Lament
किं समर्थं जनस्यास्य किं प्रियं किं सुखावहम् ।
इति रामेण नगरं पितृवत्परिपालितम् ॥१४॥
kiṃ samarthaṃ janasyāsya kiṃ priyaṃ kiṃ sukhāvaham |
iti rāmeṇa nagaraṃ pitṛvat paripālitam ||14||
राम हमेशा सोचता था, 'लोगों का क्या भला हो? क्या उन्हें अच्छा लगे? क्या उन्हें खुशी मिले?' वो शहर की देखभाल करता था जैसे बाप अपने बच्चों की करता है।
Rama looked after his people like a father always thinking what was good for them, dear to them and comfortable to them.
FAQs
Rāja-dharma as parental care: governance is measured by the people’s welfare (hita), legitimate satisfaction (priya), and well-being (sukha), not by the ruler’s self-interest.
Amid lamentation, the narration recalls Rāma’s style of protecting Ayodhyā—attentive to what truly benefits the citizens.
Vātsalya and responsibility in leadership: Rāma embodies the ideal protector, treating subjects as a father treats children.
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