Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 59, Shloka 14
एकोनषष्ठितमः सर्गः (Sarga 59): सुमन्त्रवाक्यं, अयोध्याविषादः, दाशरथिशोकसागरः
प्रविशन्तमयोध्यां मां न कश्चिदभिनन्दति।नरा राममपश्यन्तो निश्श्वसन्ति मुहुर्मुहुः।।2.59.14।।
praviśantam ayodhyāṃ māṃ na kaścid abhinandati |
narā rāmam apaśyanto niśśvasanti muhur muhuḥ ||
Khi ta bước vào Ayodhyā, chẳng một ai ra đón mừng. Dân chúng không thấy Rāma, cứ thở dài hết lần này đến lần khác.
None greeted me when I entered Ayodhya, People heaved sighs repeatedly when they did not see Rama.
FAQs
It implies that righteous leadership is a public good: the people’s grief shows their dependence on a dharmic exemplar for social confidence, stability, and hope.
Sumantra returns to Ayodhyā without Rāma and reports the citizens’ reaction—no welcome, only repeated sighs at Rāma’s absence.
Rāma’s belovedness rooted in virtue: he is not merely a prince, but a moral ideal whose absence creates collective despair.