Valmiki Ramayana 2.48.25: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 25

अयोध्यायाः शोकवर्णनम्

Ayodhya’s Lament and Civic Desolation

Devanagari script

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

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.48.25

Transliteration

upadrutam idaṁ sarvam anālambam anāyakam |

kaikeyyā hi kṛte sarvaṁ vināśam upayāsyati || 2.48.25 ||

Translation

Todo este reino está herido por la calamidad, sin amparo y sin verdadero guía; por causa de Kaikeyī, todo ello se encamina a la ruina.

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Word by Word

• upadrutam: afflicted, distressed
• upadrutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upadruta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √dru/द्रु + उपसर्ग upa)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (sg); भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• sarvam: all, entire
• sarvam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• anālambam: without support
• anālambam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-ālamba (प्रातिपदिक; नञ् + आलम्ब)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (negative)

• anāyakam: leaderless
• anāyakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-āyaka (प्रातिपदिक; नञ् + आयक/नायक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (negative)

• kaikeyyā: by Kaikeyi
• kaikeyyā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), तृतीया (Instr), एकवचन; करण/हेतु-निर्देश (by/through)

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/कारणार्थक (indeed/for)

• kṛte: for the sake of, because of
• kṛte: Hetu/Nimitta (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ/कृ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc), एकवचन; कृत (PPP) प्रयोगः—'कृते' = 'for the sake of/at the instance of' (हेतौ/निमित्ते)

• sarvam: everything (all this)
• sarvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; पूर्वोक्तस्य 'इदम्' इत्यस्य पुनरुक्त-समष्टिवाचक

• vināśam: destruction
• vināśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vināśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन

• upayāsyati: will go to, will meet with
• upayāsyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√yā (धातु; या + उपसर्ग upa)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

The entire kingdom, for the sake of Kaikeyi, is under a great calamity. With no support or leader it will definitely go to ruin.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Rajadharma requires stable, rightful leadership; removing a dharmic heir destabilizes society and is depicted as leading to collective harm.

What is the narrative situation?

With Rāma exiled and Daśaratha emotionally shattered, the citizens foresee a leaderless Ayodhya sliding into disorder.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The necessity of responsible leadership—implied praise of Rāma’s capacity to be the kingdom’s support (ālamba).