Chapter 109 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 109

Valmiki Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda

Verse 109.8

कामवृत्तोऽन्वयं लोकः कृत्स्नः समुपवर्तते। यद्वृत्ताः सन्ति राजानस्तद्वृत्ताः सन्ति हि प्रजाः॥

kāmavṛtto'nvayaṃ lokaḥ kṛtsnaḥ samupavartate| yadvṛttāḥ santi rājānastadvṛttāḥ santi hi prajāḥ||

English Meaning

When I have (first) myself set up desire as my standard of action, the entire body of the people shall follow me: subjects take to the ways that have been adopted by their sovereigns.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)