Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 47, Shloka 14

अयोध्यायाः पौरविलापः

Lament of the Citizens of Ayodhya on Rama’s Absence

Devanagari script

रथस्य मार्गनाशेन न्यवर्तन्त मनस्विनः।किमिदं किं करिष्यामो दैवेनोपहता इति।।।।

Transliteration

rathasya mārga-nāśena nyavartanta manasvinaḥ | kim idaṃ kiṃ kariṣyāmo daivenopahatā iti || 2.47.14 ||

Translation

Als die Spur des Wagens verschwand, kehrten jene hochgesinnten Menschen um und sprachen: „Was ist dies? Vom Geschick getroffen — was sollen wir tun?“

Word by Word

• रथस्य: of the chariot
• रथस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• मार्ग-नाशेन: by/owing to the loss of the track
• मार्ग-नाशेन: Hetu/Karana (हेतु/करण—cause/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मार्गस्य नाशः)

• न्यवर्तन्त: they turned back/returned
• न्यवर्तन्त: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); उपसर्ग: नि; आत्मनेपद

• मनस्विनः: the high-minded men
• मनस्विनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karta (कर्ता—predicative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता—predicative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देशवाचक-सर्वनाम

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• करिष्यामः: shall we do
• करिष्यामः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• दैवेन: by fate/destiny
• दैवेन: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उपहताः: struck/afflicted
• उपहताः: Karta (कर्ता—appositional qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-हन् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/Kta), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying मनस्विनः)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध—quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

Context

When they could not find the tracks of the chariot, those high-minded people turned back and said to themselves 'What is this? We have been deceived by fate. What are we to do now?'

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhya citizens
• chariot (ratha)

FAQs

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

The verse frames a dhārmic tension: people strive to act rightly, yet acknowledge limits when events seem governed by daiva; the ethical response is to turn back without abandoning reverence for Rama.

What is the narrative situation?

Unable to find the chariot’s track, the citizens stop pursuing and return, lamenting their helplessness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Nobility under distress—maintaining composure and collective decision-making even when overwhelmed.