Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 19
अयोध्यावासिजनानुरागः
The People and Brahmins Follow Rama toward Exile
द्विजातींस्तु पदातींस्तान् रामश्चारित्रवत्सलः।न शशाक घृणाचक्षुः परिमोक्तुं रथेन सः।।।।
dvijātīṃs tu padātīṃs tān rāmaś cāritra-vatsalaḥ |
na śaśāka ghṛṇā-cakṣuḥ parimoktuṃ rathena saḥ ||
परंतु धर्मवत्सल, करुणादृष्टी श्रीराम पायी चालणाऱ्या त्या ब्राह्मणांना मागे टाकून रथाने पुढे जाण्यास समर्थ झाले नाहीत।
The king and the hosts of friends were forcibly sent back but they did not return. They continued to follow the chariot of Rama.
FAQs
Leadership in dharma requires empathy and equality in hardship: Rama will not accept comfort if it means abandoning devoted, suffering followers.
Brahmins are following on foot; Rama refrains from riding ahead in the chariot so as not to leave them behind.
Rama’s compassion and commitment to moral propriety (cāritra).