Valmiki Ramayana 2.46.30-31: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 46, Shlokas 30-31
तमसातीरवासः · Night on the Bank of the Tamasa and the Stratagem to Elude the Citizens
मोहनार्थं तु पौराणां सूतं रामोऽब्रवीद्वचः ।
उदङ्मुखः प्रयाहि त्वं रथमास्थाय सारथे ॥३०॥
मुहूर्तं त्वरितं गत्वा निवर्तय रथं पुनः ।
यथा न विद्युः पौरा मां तथा कुरु समाहितः ॥३१॥
mohanārthaṃ tu paurāṇāṃ sūtaṃ rāmo'bravīdvacaḥ |
udaṅmukhaḥ prayāhi tvaṃ rathamāsthāya sārathe ||30||
muhūrtaṃ tvaritaṃ gatvā nivartaya rathaṃ punaḥ |
yathā na vidyuḥ paurā māṃ tathā kuru samāhitaḥ ||31||
रामः पौराणां मोहनार्थं सूतं प्रति वचः अवदत्। सारथि त्वं रथम् आस्थाय उदङ्मुखः प्रयाहि। मुहूर्तं त्वरितं गत्वा पुनः रथं निवर्तय। समाहितः तथा कुरु यथा पौराः मां न विद्युः।
With the intention of confusing the citizens, Rama said to the charioteer, O Sumantra, having seated in the chariot proceed speedly for a while in northerly direction and again turn back the chariot. Accomplish this feat in such a manner that the citizens will not know (where we have gone).
FAQs
Rama demonstrates the dharma of a compassionate ruler who, even in his own exile, thinks of his subjects' welfare. By creating confusion about his route, he prevents the citizens from following him into hardship, showing that a true leader prioritizes the well-being of his people over his own emotional comfort.
Rama has just crossed the Tamasa River in his chariot while leaving Ayodhya for exile. He instructs his charioteer Sumantra to drive north briefly and then return, creating a diversion so the grieving citizens cannot track his actual path into the forest.
Strategic wisdom combined with compassion. Rama shows foresight and practical intelligence while maintaining deep concern for his subjects, illustrating that dharma sometimes requires thoughtful action rather than simple transparency.
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