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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.35.21

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 35: The chariot departs. Sumitrā counsels Lakṣmaṇa, crowds and parents follow, Daśaratha calls for a halt while Rāma urges Sumantra onward

In the sequence: crowds surround and follow the chariot, begging him to slow down so they can keep seeing Rāma

2.35.21

kṛtakṛtyā hi vaidehī chāyevānugatā patim
na jahāti ratā dharme merum arkaprabhā yathā

For Vaidehī has fulfilled her duty, following her husband like a shadow; devoted to righteousness she does not forsake him, as the sun's light does not forsake Meru.

Words: kṛtakṛtyā — having done what was to be done, fulfilled; hi — for, indeed; vaidehī — Vaidehī (Sītā); chāyevānugatā — following like a shadow; patim — husband; na jahāti — does not forsake; ratā — devoted, attached; dharme — to righteousness, duty; merum — Meru; arkaprabhā — the sun's light; yathā — as, like

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.