Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 16
अयोध्यावासिजनानुरागः
The People and Brahmins Follow Rama toward Exile
धर्मतः स विशुद्धात्मा वीरः शुभदृढव्रतः।उपवाह्यस्तु वो भर्ता नापवाह्यः पुराद्वनम्।।।।
dharmataḥ sa viśuddhātmā vīraḥ śubhadṛḍhavrataḥ |
upavāhyas tu vo bhartā nāpavāhyaḥ purād vanam ||
彼はダルマにかなう清らかな魂の持ち主、勇者にして吉祥なる誓いに堅固である。汝らの主君は連れ戻されるべきで、都から森へ運ばれてはならぬ。
Having seen the aged brahmins muttering pitiful lamentations in this manner, Rama immediately alighted from the chariot.
FAQs
The verse frames Rama as dharmic and therefore worthy of protection and rightful kingship; it implies that sending such a person to hardship is a moral disorder.
Brahmins plead with those managing Rama’s movement to reverse course and return him from the road to exile.
Rama’s purity, bravery, and steadfastness in vow—qualities that make him the moral center of the community.