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 ||
Wahai Bhagavan, penduduk kota dan desa yang tinggal berdekatan, melihat beta mudah terlihat di sini, beta menyangka mereka akan kerap datang ke āśrama ini—untuk menatap Vaidehī dan juga beta. Atas sebab itu, beta tidak berkenan tinggal di sini.
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.