Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 45: The Brāhmaṇas from Ayodhyā Follow Rāma
Text 2.45.12
बाष्पेण पिहितं दीनं रामः सौमित्रिणा सह।
चकर्षेव गुणैर्बध्वा जनं पुरनिवासिनम्॥
bāṣpeṇa pihitaṁ dīnaṁ rāmaḥ saumitriṇā saha
cakarṣeva guṇair baddhvā janaṁ pura-nivāsinam
bāṣpeṇa = with tears [to Themselves]; pihitam = and covered over; dīnam = who were distressed; rāmaḥ = Rāma; saumitriṇā saha = and Lakṣmaṇa; cakarṣa = and drag [them along]; iva = appeared; guṇaiḥ = with Their auspicious qualities; baddhvā = to tie; janam pura-nivāsinam = the residents of the city.
Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa appeared to tie the residents of the city, who were distressed and covered over with tears, [to Themselves] with Their auspicious qualities and drag [them along].
Saumitriṇā saha indicates that Lakṣmaṇa was also complete with auspicious characteristics like Rāma. There is a pun on the word guṇaiḥ which also means “ropes.” [Metaphorically, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa tied the residents of Ayodhyā to Themselves with the ropes of affection.]