Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 49

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

न्यवर्तत जनो राज्ञो रामं कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम्।मनसाप्यश्रुवेगैश्च न न्यवर्तत मानुषम्।।।।

Transliteration

nyavartata jano rājño rāmaṃ kṛtvā pradakṣiṇam |

manasāpy aśruvegaiś ca na nyavartata mānuṣam ||

Translation

El pueblo del rey regresó, tras circunvalar a Rāma con reverencia, aunque fuera sólo en el corazón; pero el torrente humano de lágrimas y el oleaje del dolor no regresaron con ellos.

Word by Word

• न्यवर्तत: returned/turned back
• न्यवर्तत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• जनः: the people
• जनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (collective)

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भाव (gerund), ‘having done’

• प्रदक्षिणम्: circumambulation
• प्रदक्षिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (circumambulation)

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (even)

• अश्रुवेगैः: with the rush of tears
• अश्रुवेगैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्रु + वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अश्रूणां वेगाः), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; करण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• न्यवर्तत: turned back/ceased
• न्यवर्तत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (repeated for emphasis)

• मानुषम्: human (state)/as men
• मानुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; here as object ‘human (feeling/condition)’ or ‘as men’ (contextual)

Context

The king's men returned, with Rama circumambulated (on the plane of their minds). But from their minds they could not hold back their tears (grief).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• people of Ayodhyā

FAQs

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

Dharma includes reverence for virtue: the people honor Rāma (mentally circumambulating him) even when circumstances force physical separation—showing devotion aligned with righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

The citizens begin to return after following Rāma, but their grief remains overwhelming and uncontrollable.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Public devotion to a righteous leader and the communal recognition of satya and dharma embodied in Rāma.