Valmiki Ramayana 2.47.12: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 47, Shloka 12

अयोध्यायाः पौरविलापः

Lament of the Citizens of Ayodhya on Rama’s Absence

Devanagari script

इतीव बहुधा वाचो बाहुमुद्यम्य ते जनाः।विलपन्ति स्म दुःखार्ता विवत्सा इव धेनवः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.47.12

Transliteration

itīva bahudhā vāco bāhum udyamya te janāḥ | vilapanti sma duḥkhārtā vivatsā iva dhenavaḥ || 2.47.12 ||

Translation

وكان أولئك القوم يرفعون أذرعهم ويتكلمون بشتى الأقوال، وقد أضناهم الحزن، ينوحون كالأبقار التي فُجِعَت بعجولها.

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Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपातः (thus)

• iva: as if
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय

• bahudhā: in many ways
• bahudhā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahudhā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (in many ways)

• vācaḥ: words
• vācaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (वाच् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (words/speeches)

• bāhum: arm
• bāhum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (बाहु प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• udyamya: having lifted
• udyamya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-yam (उद्-यम् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभावः; पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having raised)

• te: those
• te: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; जनाः इति विशेषणम् (those)

• janāḥ: people
• janāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (जन प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• vilapanti: lament
• vilapanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-lap (वि-लप् धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• sma: (indeed/did)
• sma: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-निपातः (past narrative marker with present form)

• duḥkhārtāḥ: afflicted with grief
• duḥkhārtāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkha (दुःख) + ārta (आर्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुषः (दुःखेन आर्ताः); पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; जनाः इति विशेषणम्

• vivatsāḥ: bereft of calves
• vivatsāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-vatsa (वि-वत्स प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; धेनवः इति विशेषणम् (without calves)

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय

• dhenavaḥ: cows
• dhenavaḥ: Upamana (उपमानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhenu (धेनु प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

Context

All of them with grief distressed, and with their arms thrown up lamented like cows deprived of their calves.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhya citizens

FAQs

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

The verse highlights righteous attachment: the people’s grief is not mere sentiment but a response to the loss of a dhārmic protector, revealing the ethical bond between society and virtue.

What is the narrative situation?

The citizens express intense grief through cries and gestures after failing to remain with Rama.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The people’s devotion and sincerity—an uncalculated love for righteousness embodied in Rama.