Ayodhya KandaSarga 4837 Verses

Sarga 48

अयोध्यायाः शोकवर्णनम् (Ayodhya’s Lament and Civic Desolation)

अयोध्याकाण्ड

Sarga 48 presents a civic-psychological tableau after the citizens have followed Rāma and then returned to Ayodhyā. The populace is depicted as tear-blinded and death-wishing, as though their vital breaths were departing (2.48.1–2). Domestic life disintegrates: households weep, women reproach their husbands with sharp speech, and ordinary markers of prosperity—trade, cooking, celebrations, and even joy at childbirth—become meaningless (2.48.3–7). The text simultaneously elevates those who accompany Rāma (Lakṣmaṇa with Sītā) and imagines nature itself as a hospitable polity: forests, rivers, mountains, flowering trees, and waterfalls will “honor” Rāma like a beloved guest, offering out-of-season blossoms and pure waters (2.48.8–15). Women propose a division of service—women to Sītā, men to Rāma—framing exile as a mobile community of care (2.48.18–19). The chapter then turns sharply political: citizens denounce Kaikeyī’s unethical rule, foresee ruin in a leaderless kingdom, and anticipate Daśaratha’s death and ensuing lamentation (2.48.20–26). Rāma’s virtues are cataloged in a concentrated encomium (2.48.29–31). As evening falls, ritual fires and scriptural recitation cease; markets close; Ayodhyā appears starless, darkened, and diminished like an ocean with reduced waters—an urban metaphor for dharmic depletion (2.48.33–37).

Shlokas

Verse 2.48.1

तेषामेवं विषण्णानां पीडितानामतीव च।बाष्पविप्लुतनेत्राणां सशोकानां मुमूर्षया।।2.48.1।।अनुगम्य निवृत्तानां रामं नगरवासिनाम्।उद्गतानीव सत्वानि बभूवुरमनस्विनाम्।।2.48.2।।

Having followed Rama and then returned to the city, the citizens were utterly dejected and deeply afflicted. Their eyes overflowed with tears; crushed by grief and a longing for death, they seemed as though their very life-breath had departed and their minds were emptied of resolve.

Verse 2.48.2

Thus those citizens—dejected and deeply afflicted, their eyes flooded with tears, smitten with grief and longing for death—who had followed Rāma and then returned to the city seemed as though their very life-breath had departed, their spirits emptied of resolve.

Verse 2.48.3

स्वं स्वं निलयमागम्य पुत्रदारैस्समावृता।अश्रूणि मुमुचुस्सर्वे बाष्पेण पिहिताननाः।।2.48.3।।

Rāma—elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa—dark-hued, with a face like the full moon; broad-shouldered, a subduer of foes, lotus-eyed, and long-armed down to the knees.

Verse 2.48.4

न चाहृष्यन् नचामोदन् वणिजो न प्रसारयन्।न चाशोभन्त पण्यानि नापचन् गृहमेधिनः।।2.48.4।।

No one rejoiced, no one felt glad; the merchants did not set out their wares for sale. The market-goods had no splendor, and householders did not even cook.

Verse 2.48.5

नष्टं दृष्ट्वा नाभ्यनन्दन् विपुलं वा धनागमम्।पुत्रं प्रथमजं लब्ध्वा जननी नाभ्यनन्दत।।2.48.5।।

Seeing loss, they did not grieve; gaining great wealth, they did not rejoice. Even a mother, obtaining her first-born son, felt no happiness.

Verse 2.48.6

गृहे गृहे रुदन्त्यश्च भर्तारं गृहमागतम्।व्यगर्हयन्त दुःखार्ता वाग्भिस्तोत्रैरिव द्विपान्।।2.48.6।।

In house after house, women wept; and when their husbands returned home, they reproached them in grief—words striking like elephant-goads.

Verse 2.48.7

किं नु तेषां गृहैः कार्यं किं दारै: किं धनेन वा।पुत्रैर्वा किं सुखैर्वापि ये न पश्यन्ति राघवम्।।2.48.7।।

What use are houses to them—what use are spouses or wealth? What use are children or pleasures for those who do not behold Rāghava (Rāma)?

Verse 2.48.8

एकः सत्पुरुषो लोके लक्ष्मण स्सह सीतया।योऽनुगच्छति काकुत्स्थं रामं परिचरन् वने।।2.48.8।।

Lakṣmaṇa alone is the truly blessed and noble man in the world—he who, together with Sītā, follows Rāma of the Kakutstha line and serves him in the forest.

Verse 2.48.9

आपगाः कृतपुण्यास्ता पद्मिन्यश्च सरांसि च।येषु स्नास्यति काकुत्स्थो विगाह्य सलिलं शुचि।।2.48.9।।

Blessed are those rivers, lotus-ponds, and lakes—surely they have earned merit—for it is in their pure waters that Kakutstha (Rāma) will enter and bathe.

Verse 2.48.10

शोभयिष्यन्ति काकुत्स्थमटव्यो रम्यकाननाः।आपगाश्च महानूपाः सानुमन्तश्च पर्वताः।।2.48.10।।

Forests rich with lovely groves, broad-flowing rivers, and mountains with gentle slopes will lend added splendour to Kakutstha’s scion, Rama, in his forest-dwelling.

Verse 2.48.11

काननं वापि शैलं वा यं रामोऽधिगमिष्यति।प्रियातिथिमिव प्राप्तं नैनं शक्ष्यन्त्यनर्चितुम्।।2.48.11।।

Whatever forest or mountain Rama approaches will receive him like a beloved guest; it will not be able to leave him without honour.

Verse 2.48.12

विचित्रकुसुमापीडा बहुमञ्जरि धारिणः।राघवं दर्शयिष्यन्ति नगा भ्रमरशालिनः।।2.48.12।।

Trees crowned with varied blossoms and heavy with many clusters, alive with bees, will present themselves to Rāghava as though to greet him.

Verse 2.48.13

अकाले चापि मुख्यानि पुष्पाणि च फलानि च।दर्शयिष्यन्त्यनुक्रोशाद्गिरयो राममागतम्।।2.48.13।।

Out of compassion, even out of season, the mountains will show Rama, when he arrives, their finest flowers and fruits.

Verse 2.48.14

प्रस्रविष्यन्ति तोयानि विमलानि महीधराः।विदर्शयन्तो विविधान् भूयश्चित्रांश्च निर्झरान्।।2.48.14।।

The mountains will send forth clear waters, revealing again and again many kinds of lovely cascades and waterfalls.

Verse 2.48.15

पादपाः पर्वताग्रेषु रमयिष्यन्ति राघवम्।यत्र रामो भयं नात्र नास्ति तत्र पराभवः।।2.48.15।।

Trees upon the mountain peaks will delight Rāghava. Where Rama is, there is no fear; and where he is, there is no dishonour or defeat.

Verse 2.48.16

स हि शूरो महाबाहुः पुत्रो दशरथस्य च।पुरा भवति नोदूरादनुगच्छाम राघवम्।।2.48.16।।

He is indeed a valiant, mighty-armed son of Daśaratha. Before he goes too far from us, let us follow Rāghava.

Verse 2.48.17

पादच्छाया सुखा भर्तुस्तादृशस्य महात्मनः।स हि नाथो जनस्यास्य स गति स्सपरायणम्।।2.48.17।।

Even the shade of the feet of such a great-souled lord is happiness. He alone is the protector of this people—he is their course, their goal, their highest refuge.

Verse 2.48.18

वयं परिचरिष्यामः सीतां यूयं तु राघवम्।इति पौरस्त्रियो भर्तृ़न् दुखार्तास्तत्तदब्रुवन्।।2.48.18।।

“We shall attend upon Sītā; you, then, attend upon Rāghava.” Thus the women of the city, tormented by grief, spoke in various ways to their husbands.

Verse 2.48.19

युष्माकं राघवोऽरण्ये योगक्षेमं विधास्यति।सीता नारीजनस्यास्य योगक्षेमं करिष्यति।।2.48.19।।

In the forest, Rāghava will provide for your welfare and safety; and Sītā likewise will ensure the security and well-being of the womenfolk.

Verse 2.48.20

को न्वनेनाऽप्रतीतेन सोत्कण्ठितजनेन च।सम्प्रियेतामनोज्ञेन वासेन हृतचेतसा।।2.48.20।।

With people choking in grief, and with life here rendered joyless and unbearable—whose mind, seized by distress, could possibly take pleasure in living in such a place?

Verse 2.48.21

कैकेय्या यदि चे द्राज्यं स्यादधर्म्यमनाथवत्।न हि नो जीवितेनार्थः कुतः पुत्रैः कुतो धनैः।।2.48.21।।

If this kingdom were to fall under Kaikeyī in an unrighteous way, leaving us like the unprotected, then life itself holds no value for us—what then of children, and what of wealth?

Verse 2.48.22

यया पुत्रश्च भर्ता च त्यक्तावैश्वर्यकारणात्।कं सा परिहरेदन्यं कैकेयी कुलपांसनी।।2.48.22।।

She who, for the sake of power and splendor, cast aside both son and husband—whom would that Kaikeyī, the disgrace of her lineage, ever spare?

Verse 2.48.23

कैकेय्या न वयं राज्ये भृतका निवसेमहि।जीवन्त्या जातु जीवन्त्यः पुत्रैरपि शपामहे।।2.48.23।।

So long as Kaikeyī lives, we—while we live—will never dwell in this kingdom as hirelings; we swear it, even upon our children.

Verse 2.48.24

या पुत्रं पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य प्रवासयति निर्घृणा।कस्तां प्राप्य सुखं जीवेदधर्म्यां दुष्टचारिणीम्।।2.48.24।।

She who, without compassion, has driven into exile the son of the lord of the earth—who could live happily under her, unrighteous and of wicked conduct?

Verse 2.48.25

उपद्रुतमिदं सर्वमनालम्बमनायकम्।कैकेय्या हि कृते सर्वं विनाशमुपयास्यति।।2.48.25।।

This entire realm is struck by calamity—without support and without a true leader; for Kaikeyī’s sake, all of it is bound to move toward ruin.

Verse 2.48.26

न हि प्रव्रजिते रामे जीविष्यति महीपतिः।मृते दशरथे व्यक्तं विलापस्तदनन्तरम्।।2.48.26।।

With Rāma sent away, the king will not survive for long; and when Daśaratha dies, what follows will plainly be lamentation.

Verse 2.48.27

ते विषं पिबतालोड्य क्षीणपुण्या स्सुदुर्गताः।राघवं वानुगच्छध्वमश्रुतिं वापि गच्छत।।2.48.27।।

You who have fallen into grievous straits, as though your merits were spent—drink poison if you wish; or follow Rāghava; or else depart to some unknown place.

Verse 2.48.28

मिथ्याप्रव्राजितो राम स्ससीत स्सहलक्ष्मणः।भरते सन्निसृष्टास्स्म स्सौनिके पशवो यथा।।2.48.28।।

Returning each to their own home, surrounded by sons and wives, they all broke down in tears, their faces veiled by weeping.

Verse 2.48.29

पूर्णचन्द्रानन श्श्यामो गूढजत्रुररिन्दमः।आजानुबाहुः पद्माक्षो रामो लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः।।2.48.29।।पूर्वाभिभाषी मधुर स्सत्यवादी महाबलः।सौम्यस्सर्वस्य लोकस्य चन्द्रवत्प्रियदर्शनः।।2.48.30।।नूनं पुरुषशार्दूलो मत्तमातङ्गविक्रमः।शोभयिष्यत्यरण्यानि विचरन् स महारथः।।2.48.31।।

Rāma—together with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa—has been deceitfully driven into exile; and we have been handed over to Bharata like cattle delivered to a butcher.

Verse 2.48.30

He is the first to greet and speak, gentle and sweet by nature, truthful in speech, mighty in strength—beloved by all people, and lovely to behold like the moon.

Verse 2.48.31

Surely that great charioteer—tiger among men, with the prowess of an intoxicated elephant—will lend beauty even to the forests as he roams there.

Verse 2.48.32

तास्तथा विलपन्त्यस्तु नगरे नागरस्त्रियः।चुक्रुशु र्दुःखसन्तप्ता मृत्योरिव भयागमे।।2.48.32।।

Thus the city-women lamented; scorched by grief, they cried out as though terror had come upon them like the approach of death.

Verse 2.48.33

इत्येवं विलपन्तीनां स्त्रीणां वेश्मसु राघवम्।जगामास्तं दिनकरो रजनी चाभ्यवर्तत।।2.48.33।।

While the women in their homes lamented thus over Rāghava, the sun went down to its setting, and night arrived.

Verse 2.48.34

नष्टज्वलनसन्तापा प्रशान्ताध्यायसत्कथा।तिमिरेणाभिलिप्तेव सा तदा नगरी बभौ।।2.48.34।।

Then the city appeared as though smeared with darkness: the warmth of sacred fires had vanished, and the study of holy texts and recitations had fallen silent.

Verse 2.48.35

उपशान्तवणिक्पण्या नष्टहर्षा निराश्रया।अयोध्या नगरी चासीन्नष्टतारमिवाम्बरम्।।2.48.35।।

With traders’ markets fallen silent, joy destroyed and support withdrawn, the city of Ayodhyā looked like a sky bereft of stars.

Verse 2.48.36

तथा स्त्रियो रामनिमित्तमातुरायथा सुते भ्रातरि वा विवासिते।विलप्य दीना रुरुदुर्विचेतसस्सूतैर्हि तासामधिको हि सोऽभवत्।।2.48.36।।

For Rāma’s sake the women were stricken with grief, as though a son or a brother had been banished. Lamenting, wretched and bewildered, they wept aloud; for to them he truly was more than their own sons.

Verse 2.48.37

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

With songs, festivals, dance, and instrumental music stilled, joy driven out, and the market-stalls shut, the city of Ayodhyā then appeared like the great ocean when its waters have receded.