Valmiki Ramayana 2.47.1 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 47, Shloka 1

अयोध्यायाः पौरविलापः

Lament of the Citizens of Ayodhya on Rama’s Absence

Devanagari script

प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां पौरास्ते राघवं विना।शोकोपहतनिश्चेष्टा बभूवुर्हतचेतसः।।।।

Transliteration

prabhātāyāṃ tu śarvaryāṃ paurās te rāghavaṃ vinā | śokopahata-niśceṣṭā babhūvur hata-cetasaḥ || 2.47.1 ||

Translation

فلما مالت الليلة إلى الفجر، صار أولئك المواطنون—إذ لم يروا راغهافا—مغلوبين بالحزن، جامدين لا حراك بهم، وقد تحطّمت قلوبهم.

Word by Word

• śokajāśru-paridyūnāḥ: drenched by grief-born tears
• śokajāśru-paridyūnāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka-ja-aśru-paridyūna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain; Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies (paurāḥ understood)

• vīkṣamāṇāḥ: looking
• vīkṣamāṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमानकृदन्त), Parasmaipada sense; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• tataḥ: from there / here
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• tataḥ: and there
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (reduplicated: 'here and there')

• ālokam: sight/trace
• ālokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) 'even'

• rāmasya: of Rama
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• paśyanti: see
• paśyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्, present), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• sma: (past marker)
• sma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle indicating past/habitual with present form (स्म-निपात)

• duḥkhitāḥ: distressed
• duḥkhitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies subject

Context

When the night advanced towards dawn the citizens were stunned not to see the scion of the Raghus (Rama). Overwhelmed with sorrow they lost their senses.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhya citizens (paurāḥ)
• Raghava (Rama)
• Ayodhya (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown through collective loyalty and moral attachment to a righteous ruler; the citizens’ grief reflects how deeply they value Rama’s truthfulness and rightful conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

At dawn, the citizens realize Rama is not with them; the shock of separation leaves them stunned.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The citizens’ fidelity (anurāga) to a dhārmic prince—an ethical bond between ruler and people.