Valmiki Ramayana 2.47.9: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 47, Shloka 9
अयोध्यायाः पौरविलापः
Lament of the Citizens of Ayodhya on Rama’s Absence
किं वक्ष्यामो महाबाहुरनसूयः प्रियंवदः ।
नीत स्स राघवोऽस्माभिरिति वक्तुं कथं क्षमम् ॥९॥
kiṃ vakṣyāmo mahābāhur anasūyaḥ priyaṃvadaḥ |
nītaḥ sa rāghavo ’smābhir iti vaktuṃ kathaṃ kṣamam ||9||
เราจะกล่าวสิ่งใดได้เล่า—จะกล้ากล่าวได้อย่างไรว่า ‘พวกเรานำพระราฆวะไป’ ทั้งที่พระองค์ผู้มีพาหาใหญ่ ปราศจากพยาบาท และตรัสถ้อยคำอ่อนหวาน
What shall we say (to the people)? How can we say, 'We have conducted him (to the forest), that scion of the Raghus, that mighty-armed Rama, who is of gentle speech and free from malice?
FAQs
It highlights moral accountability: even if one is not directly guilty, society feels responsible for failing to protect the righteous.
Citizens feel shame at the thought that it may be said they ‘sent’ or ‘led’ Rāma into exile.
Rāma’s gentleness and absence of malice (anasūyā, priyaṃvada) are stressed as reasons the citizens’ shame is intensified.
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