Valmiki Ramayana 2.54.24: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 54, Shloka 24
भरद्वाजाश्रमप्राप्तिः
Arrival at Bharadvāja’s Hermitage and Counsel toward Citrakūṭa
भगवन्नित आसन्नः पौरजानपदो जनः।सुदर्शमिह मां प्रेक्ष्य मन्येऽहमिममाश्रमम्।।।।आगमिष्यति वैदेहीं मां चापि प्रेक्षको जनः।अनेन कारणेनाहमिह वासं न रोचये।।।।
bhagavan ita āsannaḥ paurajānapado janaḥ | sudarśam iha māṃ prekṣya manye ’ham imam āśramam || āgamiṣyati vaidehīṃ māṃ cāpi prekṣako janaḥ | anena kāraṇenāham iha vāsaṃ na rocaye ||
ഭഗവൻ, സമീപത്തുള്ള നഗരവാസികളും ഗ്രാമജനങ്ങളും, ഞാൻ ഇവിടെ എളുപ്പത്തിൽ ദൃശ്യമാകുന്നതു കണ്ടു, ഈ ആശ്രമത്തിലേക്ക് പലപ്പോഴും വരുമെന്നു ഞാൻ കരുതുന്നു; വൈദേഹിയെയും എന്നെയും കാണുവാൻ ജനങ്ങൾ വരും. അതുകൊണ്ടാണ് എനിക്ക് ഇവിടെ വസിക്കാൻ ഇഷ്ടമില്ലാത്തത്.
O venerable sage, I feel the people living in nearby villages and towns, perceiving that we can be easily seen here, will frequent this ashram. This is the reason I don't wish to stay here.
FAQs
Dharma in exile includes restraint and non-display: Rāma avoids becoming an object of public attention that could disturb ascetic life and Sītā’s dignity.
Rāma respectfully declines staying at Bharadvāja’s nearby hermitage area because the proximity to settlements would draw crowds to see him and Sītā.
Rāma’s modesty and protective responsibility—prioritizing Sītā’s comfort and the discipline of forest-dwelling over convenience.
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