Valmiki Ramayana 2.48.37: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 37

अयोध्यायाः शोकवर्णनम्

Ayodhya’s Lament and Civic Desolation

Devanagari script

प्रशान्तगीतोत्सवनृत्तवादनाव्यपास्तहर्षा पिहितापणोदया।तदा ह्ययोध्या नगरी बभूव सामहार्णव स्सङ्क्षपितोदको यथा।।2.48.37।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.48.37

Transliteration

praśānta-gītotsava-nṛtta-vādana-vyapāsta-harṣā pihitāpaṇodayā |

tadā hy ayodhyā nagarī babhūva sā mahārṇavaḥ saṅkṣipitodako yathā ||2.48.37||

Translation

وقد سكنت الأناشيد والاحتفالات والرقص وعزف الآلات، وطُرد الفرح وأُغلقت دكاكين السوق؛ فبدت مدينة أيودهيا حينئذٍ كالمحيط العظيم إذا انحسر ماؤه.

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Word by Word

• प्रशान्त-गीत-उत्सव-नृत्त-वादना: with singing, festivals, dance and music stilled
• प्रशान्त-गीत-उत्सव-नृत्त-वादना: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रशान्त (प्र-शम् धातु, क्त/कृदन्त) + गीत (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्सव (प्रातिपदिक) + नृत्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वादन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः: गीत-उत्सव-नृत्त-वादनानां द्वन्द्वः, तेषां प्रशान्तत्वं (cessation) दर्शयति

• व्यपास्त-हर्षा: with joy driven away
• व्यपास्त-हर्षा: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-अप-आस्/अस्? (व्यपास्त = वि+अप+अस्/आस् धातु, क्त/कृदन्त; ‘removed’) + हर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः (हर्षः व्यपास्तः यस्याः सा)

• पिहित-आपण-उदया: whose market-activity was shut/closed
• पिहित-आपण-उदया: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिहित (पि-धा धातु, क्त/कृदन्त) + आपण (प्रातिपदिक) + उदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः: आपणानाम् उदयः (उद्घाटन/व्यापारप्रवृत्तिः) पिहितः यस्याः सा

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (indeed)

• अयोध्या: Ayodhya
• अयोध्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• नगरी: city
• नगरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• बभूव: became
• बभूव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• सा: that (she)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; अयोध्या-नगरी इत्यस्य पुनरुक्त-सूचक (that)

• महा-अर्णवः: great ocean
• महा-अर्णवः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपमान (ocean)

• सङ्क्षपित-उदकः: with waters diminished
• सङ्क्षपित-उदकः: Upamāna-viśeṣaṇa (उपमानविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सङ्-क्षिप् (धातु, क्त/कृदन्त) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; महा-अर्णवः इत्यस्य विशेषण; समासः (उदकं सङ्क्षपितं यस्य सः)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (as/like)

Context

With the cessation of singing, celebrations, dance and music, there was no rejoicing in the city. The markets displaying merchandise were shut down. The city of Ayodhya looked like the ocean with its waters diminished.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē aṣṭacatvāriśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the fortyeighth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā
• mahārṇava (ocean)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how a righteous leader’s presence sustains social harmony; when Rāma—an embodiment of dharma—is absent, public life loses its order and joy, showing the ethical link between personal virtue and collective wellbeing.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāma’s departure toward exile, Ayodhyā falls into a citywide hush: celebrations stop, commerce closes, and the capital looks drained and lifeless.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s dhārmic stature is implied: his integrity and rightful conduct are so central that his absence alone causes the city’s morale and normal rhythms to collapse.