Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 26, Shloka 1
अयोध्याकाण्डे षड्विंशः सर्गः
Rama’s Departure and Sita’s Questions; Disclosure of Exile and Counsel on Courtly Conduct
अभिवाद्य च कौसल्यां राम स्संप्रस्थितो वनम्।कृतस्वस्त्ययनो मात्रा धर्मिष्ठे वर्त्मनि स्थितः।।।।विराजयन्राजसुतो राजमार्गं नरैर्वृतम्।हृदयान्याममन्थेव जनस्य गुणवत्तया।।।।
abhivādya ca kausalyāṃ rāmaḥ saṃprasthito vanam | kṛta-svastyayano mātrā dharmiṣṭhe vartmani sthitaḥ || virājayan rājasuto rāja-mārgaṃ narair vṛtam | hṛdayāny āmamanth eva janasya guṇavattayā ||
କୌସଲ୍ୟାଙ୍କୁ ଅଭିବାଦନ କରି, ମାତାଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ସ୍ୱସ୍ତ୍ୟୟନ କ୍ରିୟା ସମ୍ପନ୍ନ ହେବା ପରେ, ଧର୍ମିଷ୍ଠ ମାର୍ଗରେ ଦୃଢ଼ ହୋଇ ରାମ ବନକୁ ପ୍ରସ୍ଥାନ କଲେ। ଲୋକେ ଭିଡ଼ିଥିବା ରାଜମାର୍ଗରେ ରାଜସୁତ ଦୀପ୍ତିମାନ ହୋଇ ଅଗ୍ରସର ହେଲେ; ନିଜ ଗୁଣବଳରେ ଜନମାନସର ହୃଦୟକୁ ଯେନ ମଥିଦେଉଥିଲେ।
After the benedictory rites were performed by his mother Kausalya, Rama paid obeisance to her and staying on the righteous path decided to depart to the forest. He entered the highway thronged with people and illumining it with his lustre and stirred their hearts with (remembrances of) his excellent virtues.
FAQs
Dharma is steadfast adherence to the righteous course even when it causes personal loss: Rāma’s departure is framed as standing firmly on the dharmiṣṭha path.
Rāma, blessed by Kausalyā, leaves for exile and moves through the main road of Ayodhyā, where the people’s emotions are deeply stirred by his presence and virtues.
Moral charisma rooted in virtue: Rāma’s guṇavattā (excellence) affects the public profoundly, marking him as the ideal prince.