Shloka 2.42.24

द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः — दशरथस्य शोक-विलापः तथा कौशल्यागृह-प्रवेशः (Dasaratha’s Lament and Return to Kausalya’s Apartments)

Devanagari script

शून्यचत्वरवेश्मान्तां संवृतापणदेवताम्।क्लान्तदुर्बलदुःखार्तां नात्याकीर्णमहापथाम्।।2.42.23।।तामवेक्ष्य पुरीं सर्वां राममेवानुचिन्तयन्।विलपन् प्राविशद्राजा गृहं सूर्य इवाम्बुदम्।।2.42.24।।

Transliteration

śūnyacatvara-veśmāntāṃ saṃvṛtāpaṇa-devatām |

klānta-durbala-duḥkhārtāṃ nātyākīrṇa-mahāpathām || (2.42.23)

tām avekṣya purīṃ sarvāṃ rāmam evānucintayan |

vilapan prāviśad rājā gṛhaṃ sūrya ivāmbudam || (2.42.24)

Translation

Beholding the whole city desolate and grief-stricken, thinking only of Rāma, the king entered his palace wailing—like the sun swallowed by clouds.

Context

There the mansions and squares on the highways were all deserted. The temples and marketplaces were closed. The people were weak, fatigued and tormented with grief. The highways were not much crowded. Having seen such a sight of the city on all sides, lamenting and brooding over Rama, Dasaratha entered his palace like the Sun plunging into a cloud.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Ayodhyā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Even in duplicated transmission, the ethical point remains: adharma in governance produces collective suffering; dharma sustains civic vitality.

What is the narrative situation?

The source repeats the prior description while numbering it as a separate verse entry (a formatting/recensional presentation).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s implicit virtue is underscored by the city’s reaction—his absence itself becomes the measure of loss.