Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.27 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 27

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

एवं वदन्तस्ते सोढुं न शेकुर्बाष्पमागतम्।नरास्तमनुगच्छन्तः प्रियमिक्ष्वाकुनन्दनम्।।।।

Transliteration

evaṃ vadantas te soḍhuṃ na śekur bāṣpam āgatam | narās tam anugacchantaḥ priyam ikṣvāku-nandanam ||

Translation

ومع أنهم قالوا ذلك، لم يستطيعوا أن يحبسوا الدموع التي فاضت من داخلهم، وهم يتبعون راما الحبيب، بهجةَ سلالةِ إكشواكو.

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थक (thus)

• vadantaḥ: speaking
• vadantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vad (वद्) + शतृ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle): speaking

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• soḍhum: to bear
• soḍhum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sah (सह्)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive): to endure/bear

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (not)

• śekuḥ: were able
• śekuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śak (शक्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• bāṣpam: tears
• bāṣpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• āgatam: that had come
• āgatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā + √gam (गम्) + क्त
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त: come/arrived; विशेषणम् (qualifies bāṣpam)

• narāḥ: men/people
• narāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; te narāḥ apposition

• tam: him (Rama)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• anugacchantaḥ: following
• anugacchantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu + √gam (गम्) + शतृ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त: following

• priyam: beloved
• priyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies ikṣvākunandanam)

• ikṣvāku-nandanam: delight of the Ikshvaku dynasty
• ikṣvāku-nandanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ikṣvāku + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ikṣvākūnāṃ nandanaḥ = delight of Ikṣvāku line)

Context

Speaking thus, the people following their beloved Rama, the delight of the Ikshvaku dynasty, were not able to bear (restrain) the tears flowing from their eyes.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Ikṣvāku dynasty
• Ayodhyā citizens

FAQs

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

Dharma is love aligned with righteousness: the people honor Rāma’s rightful conduct, yet their tears show that dharmic decisions can still cause real human sorrow.

What is the narrative situation?

Citizens follow Rāma out of devotion; despite their words of praise, they are overwhelmed and weep openly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The citizens’ loyalty and reverence for righteous leadership—public affection for a prince who embodies dharma.