Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 21
अयोध्यावासिजनानुरागः
The People and Brahmins Follow Rama toward Exile
ब्राह्मण्यं सर्वमेतत्त्वां ब्रह्मण्यमनुगच्छति।द्विजस्कन्धाधिरूढास्त्वामग्नयोऽप्यनुयान्त्यमी।।।।
brāhmaṇyaṃ sarvam etat tvāṃ brahmaṇyam anugacchati |
dvija-skandhādhirūḍhās tvām agnayo ’py anuyānty amī ||
Wahai pelindung para brahmana, seluruh golongan brahmana ini mengikuti engkau; bahkan api-api suci ini pun—yang dipanggul di bahu para dwija—berjalan menyertaimu.
This entire order of brahmins with the sacrificial fires on their hsoulders is following you, their well-wisher.
FAQs
Dharma is portrayed as inseparable from the righteous person: the custodians of ritual and their sacred fires align themselves with Rama, implying that moral legitimacy draws the support of spiritual institutions.
Brahmins tell Rama that they—and even their ritual fires—are accompanying him on his forest-bound path.
Rama’s reputation as a protector and benefactor of the brahmins (brahmaṇya).