Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 5
अयोध्यावासिजनानुरागः
The People and Brahmins Follow Rama toward Exile
अवेक्षमाणः सस्नेहं चक्षुषा प्रपिबन्निव।उवाच रामः स्नेहेन ताः प्रजाः स्वाः प्रजा इव।।।।
avekṣamāṇaḥ sa-snehaṃ cakṣuṣā prapibann iva |
uvāca rāmaḥ snehena tāḥ prajāḥ svāḥ prajā iva ||
Memandang mereka dengan penuh kasih, seakan-akan meneguk mereka dengan mata, Sri Rama berbicara lembut kepada rakyat itu, laksana kepada anak-anaknya sendiri.
Although entreated by his subjects (not to go) Rama proceeded to the forest to make his father's vow come true.
FAQs
The dharma of leadership includes compassion: even while fulfilling a hard duty, Rāma responds to his people with parental care and emotional responsibility.
On the path of exile, Rāma sees the grieving citizens and prepares to address them, acknowledging their love and pain.
Empathy and protective affection: Rāma treats the subjects not merely as a crowd, but as dependents worthy of tenderness.