Valmiki Ramayana 2.48.10: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 10

अयोध्यायाः शोकवर्णनम्

Ayodhya’s Lament and Civic Desolation

Setting: forest-bound route of exile (general)Places named: aṭavī (forests), kānana (groves), āpagaḥ (rivers), parvata (mountains)Early forest-dwelling trajectory after leaving Ayodhyā

Devanagari script

शोभयिष्यन्ति काकुत्स्थमटव्यो रम्यकाननाः ।

आपगाश्च महानूपाः सानुमन्तश्च पर्वताः ॥१०॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.48.10

Transliteration

śobhayiṣyanti kākutstham aṭavyo ramya-kānanāḥ |

āpagāś ca mahānūpāḥ sānumantaś ca parvatāḥ ||10||

Translation

Wälder mit lieblichen Hainen, weit sich ausbreitende Flüsse und Berge mit sanften Hängen werden dem Spross der Kakutsthas, Rama, in seinem Waldaufenthalt noch größeren Glanz verleihen.

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Word by Word

• śobhayiṣyanti: will adorn; will enhance
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śubh (धातु) [causative: śobhay-]
• Form: Future (लृट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Plural; causative (णिच्)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• kākutstham: Kākutstha (Rama)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākutstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• aṭavyaḥ: forests
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṭavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• ramyakānanāḥ: with lovely groves
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya-kānana (प्रातिपदिक; ramya + kānana)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural; qualifying aṭavyaḥ
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• āpagāḥ: rivers
• Type: Noun
• Root: āpagā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• mahānūpāḥ: with vast watery stretches
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-anūpa (प्रातिपदिक; mahā + anūpa)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural; qualifying āpagāḥ; anūpa = watery tract/river-bank region
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• sānumantaḥ: having slopes
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-anumat (प्रातिपदिक; sa + anumant)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifying parvatāḥ; 'having slopes/ridges'
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• parvatāḥ: mountains
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

Sandhi Notes

• काकुत्स्थमटव्यो = काकुत्स्थम् + अटव्यः (m + a sandhi)
• आपगाश्च = आपगाः + च
• सानुमन्तश्च = सानुमन्तः + च

Context

Forests with beautiful groves rivers with vast expanse of waters, mountains with their slopes will enhance the lustre of the scion of the Kakutsthas (Rama).

The teaching

For one established in dharma, even exile becomes a field of auspiciousness; the outer world mirrors inner nobility.

Ethical theme

Dharma in adversity / ideal kingship in exile

Devotion and practice

Smaraṇa of Rāma in vanavāsa as a support for endurance and purity; nature-as-temple contemplation.

Deity praised

Rāma (as Kakutstha-vaṃśaja)

Form of praise

Stuti (implicit praise)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Awe-filled, auspicious, expansive

Themes

• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Nature as moral witness
• Tapas/Vanavāsa (forest exile)

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama (Kākutstha)
• forests (aṭavyaḥ)
• rivers (āpagāḥ)
• mountains (parvatāḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as so luminous that even exile does not diminish it; rather, the natural world becomes a fitting setting that honours righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

People reflect on Rama’s coming forest life and console themselves that the wilderness—forests, rivers, and mountains—will suit and adorn him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s inner splendour and steadfastness: his dignity is such that any place he inhabits becomes ennobled.