Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.21 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 21

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

Departure from Ayodhya; Civic Lament and the Chariot’s Urgency

Devanagari script

पार्श्वतः पृष्ठतश्चापि लम्बमानास्तदुन्मुखाः।बाष्पपूर्णमुखास्सर्वे तमूचुर्भृशनिस्वनाः।।।।

Transliteration

pārśvataḥ pṛṣṭhataś cāpi lambamānās tad-unmukhāḥ | bāṣpa-pūrṇa-mukhāḥ sarve tam ūcur bhṛśa-nisvanāḥ ||

Translation

متعلّقين بالعربة من الجانبين ومن الخلف، كانوا جميعًا—وجوههم مغمورة بالدموع وأصواتهم مخنوقة بنشيجٍ عميق—يخاطبون سومانترَة.

Word by Word

• pārśvataḥ: at the side
• pārśvataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pārśvatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb): पार्श्वेभ्यः/पार्श्वतः (from/at the side)

• pṛṣṭhataḥ: from behind
• pṛṣṭhataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛṣṭhatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त: पृष्ठतः (from behind/behind)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction: and)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-निपात (also/even)

• lambamānāḥ: clinging/leaning
• lambamānāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √lamb (लम्ब्) + शानच् (शतृ-समकक्ष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle, Ātmanepada sense): hanging/leaning

• tad-unmukhāḥ: facing him
• tad-unmukhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad + unmukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (tasmin unmukhāḥ = facing him); विशेषणम् (qualifies sarve)

• bāṣpa-pūrṇa-mukhāḥ: with faces full of tears
• bāṣpa-pūrṇa-mukhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāṣpa + pūrṇa + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (bāṣpena pūrṇaṃ mukhaṃ yeṣām) used adjectivally; tears-filled faces

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनामसदृश-विशेषण (all)

• tam: him (Sumantra)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; संबोधन-लक्ष्य (the one addressed)

• ūcuḥ: said
• ūcuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• bhṛśa-nisvanāḥ: with loud cries
• bhṛśa-nisvanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhṛśa (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + nisvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (bhṛśaḥ nisvanaḥ yeṣām/ye) = very loud/noisy; विशेषणम्

Context

All the people hanging from the chariot from behind and by the sides, heaving deeply, their faces covered with tears, thus addressed to Sumantra:

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā (citizens)
• Sumantra
• Rāma (implied by the chariot scene)

FAQs

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

It shows the dharmic bond between ruler and subjects: their grief is not mere emotion, but a response to the loss of righteous protection and moral order.

What is the narrative situation?

Citizens physically surround and cling to the moving chariot and then address Sumantra, pleading through tears.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective loyalty and devotion to a dharmic prince; also the restraint of addressing the charioteer as a practical mediator.