Valmiki Ramayana 2.41.2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 41, Shloka 2
अयोध्यायाः शोकप्रकम्पः
Ayodhya’s Tremor of Grief and Omens
अनाथस्य जनस्यास्य दुर्बलस्य तपस्विनः।यो गतिश्शरणं चासीत्स नाथः क्व नु गच्छति।।2.41.2।।
anāthasya janasyāsya durbalasya tapasvinaḥ | yo gatiḥ śaraṇaṃ cāsīt sa nāthaḥ kva nu gacchati || 2.41.2 ||
สำหรับประชาชนนี้—ผู้ไร้ที่พึ่ง อ่อนแรง และทุกข์ระทม—พระองค์เคยเป็นที่พึ่งและที่คุ้มครอง; แล้วบัดนี้องค์นายและผู้พิทักษ์นั้นจะเสด็จไป ณ ที่ใดเล่า?
Rama was a refuge and a protector to all the people who were defenceless, weak and miserable. Where is such a protector going now? (said the people).
FAQs
Dharma is framed as protection of the vulnerable: the righteous leader is a ‘gati’ and ‘śaraṇa’ for the weak, and exile feels ethically tragic because it removes that shelter.
The people of Ayodhya, stunned by Rama’s exile, cry out that their protector is leaving and wonder where he is going.
Rama’s karuṇā (compassion) and guardianship—he is remembered as the dependable refuge of the helpless.
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