Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 41, Shloka 15
अयोध्यायाः शोकप्रकम्पः
Ayodhya’s Tremor of Grief and Omens
अकस्मान्नागरस्सर्वो जनो दैन्यमुपागमत्।आहारे वा विहारे वा न कश्चिदकरोन्मनः।।2.41.15।।
akasmān nāgaraḥ sarvo jano dainyam upāgamat | āhāre vā vihāre vā na kaścid akarod manaḥ || 2.41.15 ||
અચાનક સમગ્ર નગરજન દુઃખમાં ડૂબી ગયો; આહાર હોય કે વિહાર—કોઈનું મન કશામાં લાગ્યું નહીં.
All of a sudden the people of the city became miserable. No one was interested in eating and enjoying (life).
FAQs
The people’s grief reflects a dharmic bond between ruler and subjects: when a virtuous protector is removed, society experiences moral and emotional distress, underscoring the duty of leadership to uphold collective welfare.
Ayodhya’s citizens, hearing/realizing Rama has gone to exile, lose interest in ordinary life such as eating and recreation.
Rama’s belovedness and perceived protectiveness—his presence had given the people security and joy.