Shloka 2.48.34

अयोध्यायाः शोकवर्णनम् (Ayodhya’s Lament and Civic Desolation)

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

naṣṭajvalanasantāpā praśāntādhyāyasatkathā |

timireṇābhiliptā iva sā tadā nagarī babhau || 2.48.34 ||

Translation

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.

Context

With sacrificial fires extinguished and the reading of holy scriptures and sacred recitations stopped, Ayodhya looked as if besmeared with darkness.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā (implied city)

FAQs

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

Dharma is sustained by both righteous leadership and daily sacred practice; when the moral center is shaken, even ritual and learning lose vitality.

What is the narrative situation?

Night descends on a city whose religious and cultural routines have halted due to grief over Rāma’s exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s role as a dharmic anchor: his absence disrupts not only politics but also the city’s spiritual rhythm.