Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 59, Shloka 19

एकोनषष्ठितमः सर्गः (Sarga 59): सुमन्त्रवाक्यं, अयोध्याविषादः, दाशरथिशोकसागरः

Devanagari script

अप्रहृष्टमनुष्या च दीननागतुरङ्गमा।आर्तस्वरपरिम्लाना विनिश्श्वसितनिस्स्वना।।2.59.19।।निरानन्दा महाराज रामप्रव्राजनातुरा।कौसल्या पुत्रहीनेव अयोध्या प्रतिभाति मा।।2.59.20।।

Transliteration

aprahṛṣṭa-manuṣyā ca dīna-nāga-turaṅgamā |

ārta-svara-parimlānā viniśśvasita-nisvanā ||2.59.19||

Translation

Its people were joyless; even elephants and horses were spiritless. The city seemed worn by cries of anguish and resounded with deep, despairing sighs.

Word by Word

• aprahṛṣṭa-manuṣyā: people (who were) cheerless
• aprahṛṣṭa-manuṣyā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aprahṛṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + manuṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (descriptive: 'cheerless people'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (समूहवाचक-बहुवचनप्रयोग), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction/समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• dīna-nāga-turaṅgamā: dejected elephants and horses
• dīna-nāga-turaṅgamā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīna (प्रातिपदिक) + nāga (प्रातिपदिक) + turaṅgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (copulative: 'elephants and horses', qualified by dīna); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ārta-svara-parimlānā: wan, with anguished voices
• ārta-svara-parimlānā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārta (प्रातिपदिक) + svara (प्रातिपदिक) + parimlāna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: 'pale/wan due to distressed voices'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• viniśśvasita-nissvanā: sounding with deep sighs
• viniśśvasita-nissvanā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viniśśvasita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + nissvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: 'having sound of deep sighs'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

Context

Having heard him, Sumantra, overcome with tears, related further details of Rama's message.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhya (city, implied)
• people of Ayodhya
• elephants
• horses
• Rama (implied cause: exile)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse illustrates the far-reaching consequences of adharma in governance: a wrongful act affecting a righteous heir disturbs the whole realm, even its animals and atmosphere.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra depicts the city’s condition after Rama’s departure—universal dejection and audible lament.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s role as the life-force of the kingdom (a dharmic center), whose absence drains joy from all.