Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 45: The Brāhmaṇas from Ayodhyā Follow Rāma
Text 2.45.18
पद्भ्यामेव जगामाथ ससीतः सहलक्ष्मणः।
सन्निकृष्टपदन्यासो रामो वनपरायणः॥
padbhyām eva jagāmātha sasītaḥ saha-lakṣmaṇaḥ
sannikṛṣṭa-pada-nyāso rāmo vana-parāyaṇaḥ
padbhyām eva = by foot; jagāma = went; atha = then; sasītaḥ = with Sītā; saha-lakṣmaṇaḥ = and Lakṣmaṇa; sannikṛṣṭa-pada-nyāsaḥ = walking short steps; rāmaḥ = Rāma; vana-parāyaṇaḥ = intent on [entering] the forest.
Rāma then went by foot, walking short steps with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa, intent on [entering] the forest.
If Rāmacandra had gone by the chariot [even] after hearing these words of the brāhmaṇas, it would be wrong. Thinking thus, He got down and walked. If He had stopped to console the brāhmaṇas, His vow [of carrying out His father’s instruction] would break. Considering this, He got down from the chariot and walked slowly until the brāhmaṇas caught up with Him.