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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.51.12

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 51: Sumantra returns to Ayodhyā. Citizens surround the empty chariot, news of Rāma’s crossing renews their grief and Daśaratha collapses on receiving his message

In the sequence: covering his face, he drives to the palace and passes through the courtyards as the women wonder how he will speak to Kausalyā

2.51.12

kiṃ samarthaṃ janasyāsya kiṃ priyaṃ kiṃ sukhāvaham
iti rāmeṇa nagaraṃ pitṛvat paripālitam

'What is fitting for these people, what is dear to them, what brings them ease?'—so mindful, Rāma guarded the city like a father.

Words: kiṃ — what; samarthaṃ — fitting, suitable; janasyāsya — for these people; kiṃ — what; priyaṃ — dear, pleasing; kiṃ — what; sukhāvaham — bringing ease; iti — thus; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; nagaraṃ — the city; pitṛvat — like a father; paripālitam — was guarded, protected

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.