Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 20

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

Departure from Ayodhya; Civic Lament and the Chariot’s Urgency

Devanagari script

तत स्सबालवृद्धा सा पुरी परमपीडिता।राममेवाभिदुद्राव घर्मार्ता सलिलं यथा।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ sa-bāla-vṛddhā sā purī parama-pīḍitā | rāmam evābhidudrāva gharmārtā salilaṃ yathā ||

Translation

Then that city—young and old alike—tormented by anguish, ran only toward Rāma, as those scorched by heat run toward water.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb); अर्थे: अनन्तरम् (thereafter)

• sa-bāla-vṛddhā: with young and old (included)
• sa-bāla-vṛddhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāla + vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक); sa- (उपसर्ग/अव्यय-पूर्वपद)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (bāla-vṛddha = young and old) + सहार्थक-पूर्वपद sa- (with); विशेषणम् (qualifies purī)

• sā: that
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

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

• parama-pīḍitā: extremely afflicted
• parama-pīḍitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama + pīḍita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √pīḍ (पीड्) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) pīḍita = afflicted; कर्मधारयः (paramā ca sā pīḍitā)

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• eva: only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle: only/indeed)

• abhidudrāva: ran towards
• abhidudrāva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + √dru (द्रु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; उपसर्गः abhi- (towards)

• gharma-ārtā: distressed by heat
• gharma-ārtā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gharma + ārta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ar (अृ) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (gharmasya ārtā = distressed by heat); विशेषणम् (qualifies purī)

• salilam: water
• salilam: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: salila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; उपमान-पदम् (object of comparison)

• yathā: as/like
• yathā: Upama (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमार्थक (comparative particle: like/as)

Context

Thereafter the extremely afflicted people of the city, including young and old alike, ran towards Rama like men oppressed with heat running for water.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā (citizens)
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The verse reflects rājadhrama’s ideal: the people seek the righteous ruler as a necessity of life, implying that dharmic leadership is a public refuge.

What is the narrative situation?

All sections of Ayodhyā’s population rush after Rāma’s departing chariot, unable to bear separation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s benevolence and trustworthiness—he is perceived as life-sustaining for his people.