Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 19
अयोध्यावासिजनानुरागः
The People and Brahmins Follow Rama toward Exile
द्विजातींस्तु पदातींस्तान् रामश्चारित्रवत्सलः।न शशाक घृणाचक्षुः परिमोक्तुं रथेन सः।।।।
dvijātīṃs tu padātīṃs tān rāmaś cāritra-vatsalaḥ |
na śaśāka ghṛṇā-cakṣuḥ parimoktuṃ rathena saḥ ||
مگر رام—جو سچّے آچرن کے دلدادہ اور کروناکاری نگاہوں والے تھے—یہ نہ کر سکے کہ رتھ پر سوار ہو کر آگے بڑھ جائیں اور اُن دوِج برہمنوں کو پیچھے پیدل چھوڑ دیں۔
The king and the hosts of friends were forcibly sent back but they did not return. They continued to follow the chariot of Rama.
FAQs
Leadership in dharma requires empathy and equality in hardship: Rama will not accept comfort if it means abandoning devoted, suffering followers.
Brahmins are following on foot; Rama refrains from riding ahead in the chariot so as not to leave them behind.
Rama’s compassion and commitment to moral propriety (cāritra).