te cāpi paurā nṛpatervacasta cchṛtvā tathā lābhamiveṣṭamāśu| narendramāmantrya gṛhāṇi gatvā devānsamānarcuratiprahṛṣṭāḥ
On hearing such pronouncement by the king, the citizens also felt they have got something beneficial for themselves. They took leave of the king (Dasaratha) and hastening home, full of joy, began worshipping their gods. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे तृतीयस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the third sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
— M.N. Dutt (1891)
The citizens feel they have received something precious. Sarga 3 closes on a note of collective joy — the people's happiness mirrors the universe's alignment. Everything is perfect. And that is exactly when the epic will break our hearts.