Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 33
अयोध्यायाः शोकवर्णनम्
Ayodhya’s Lament and Civic Desolation
इत्येवं विलपन्तीनां स्त्रीणां वेश्मसु राघवम्।जगामास्तं दिनकरो रजनी चाभ्यवर्तत।।2.48.33।।
ity evaṃ vilapantīnāṃ strīṇāṃ veśmasu rāghavam |
jagāma astaṃ dinakaro rajanī cābhyavartata || 2.48.33 ||
While the women in their homes lamented thus over Rāghava, the sun went down to its setting, and night arrived.
As the women of the city were thus lamenting over the scion of the Raghus (Rama) (sitting) at home, the sun set. Night fell.
FAQs
The verse underscores the endurance of suffering when dharma is wounded: grief does not quickly pass, and moral injury can darken the lived experience of time itself.
The lament continues through the day until sunset; the narrative marks the transition into night amid ongoing sorrow.
Rāma’s belovedness (priyattva) is foregrounded indirectly—people’s grief persists for hours, showing deep attachment to his righteous character.