Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 41, Shloka 2
अयोध्यायाः शोकप्रकम्पः
Ayodhya’s Tremor of Grief and Omens
अनाथस्य जनस्यास्य दुर्बलस्य तपस्विनः।यो गतिश्शरणं चासीत्स नाथः क्व नु गच्छति।।2.41.2।।
anāthasya janasyāsya durbalasya tapasvinaḥ | yo gatiḥ śaraṇaṃ cāsīt sa nāthaḥ kva nu gacchati || 2.41.2 ||
Bagi rakyat ini—yang tak berpelindung, lemah, dan menderita—dialah tempat berlindung dan perlindungan; ke manakah kini sang tuan dan penjaga itu pergi?
Rama was a refuge and a protector to all the people who were defenceless, weak and miserable. Where is such a protector going now? (said the people).
FAQs
Dharma is framed as protection of the vulnerable: the righteous leader is a ‘gati’ and ‘śaraṇa’ for the weak, and exile feels ethically tragic because it removes that shelter.
The people of Ayodhya, stunned by Rama’s exile, cry out that their protector is leaving and wonder where he is going.
Rama’s karuṇā (compassion) and guardianship—he is remembered as the dependable refuge of the helpless.