Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.18: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 18

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

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

Setting: AyodhyāPlaces named: mahāraṇya (great forest)Immediate aftermath of departure toward the great forest (mahāraṇya)

Devanagari script

प्रतियाते महारण्यं चिररात्राय राघवे ।

बभूव नगरे मूर्छा बलमूर्छा जनस्य च ॥१८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.40.18

Transliteration

pratiyāte mahāraṇyaṃ cira-rātrāya rāghave |

babhūva nagare mūrchā bala-mūrchā janasya ca ||18||

Translation

जब राम जंगल की तरफ़ निकले, बहुत दिनों के लिए। तब शहर में सब लोग बेहोश सा हो गए। लोगों में ताकत नहीं रही।

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Word by Word

• तत्: that
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; refers to पुरम्
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• समाकुलसम्भ्रान्तम्: confused and agitated
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ākula-sambhrānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/समाहार-द्वन्द्ववत् संयुक्तविशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies पुरम्
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• मत्तसङ्कुपितद्विपम्: having elephants intoxicated and enraged
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matta-saṅkupita-dvipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (मत्ताः सङ्कुपिताः द्विपाः यस्मिन्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies पुरम्
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

• हयशिञ्जितनिर्घोषम्: filled with the sound of horses’ tinkling/neighing
• Type: Adjective
• Root: haya-śiñjita-nirghoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (हयानां शिञ्जितस्य निर्घोषः यस्मिन्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies पुरम्
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

• पुरम्: city
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• आसीत्: was/became
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• महास्वनम्: loud-roaring/with great noise
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-svana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् स्वनः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective of पुरम्
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

Sandhi Notes

• तत्समाकुलसम्भ्रान्तं = तत् + समाकुलसम्भ्रान्तम्
• पुरमासीन्महास्वनम् = पुरम् + आसीत् + महास्वनम्
• मत्तसङ्कुपितद्विपम् (anusvāra) = मत्तसङ्कुपितद्विपम्

Context

Having seen Rama set out for the great forest for a long period, the city was stilled and men were enervated.

The teaching

Dharma may be righteous yet painful; society feels the cost when a dharmic pillar withdraws.

Duties in tension

• Rama’s obedience to father’s command vs. citizens’ expectation of his kingship and protection
• Public welfare (praja-hita) vs. personal vow/filial duty

Ethical theme

Filial duty vs. civic welfare

How it resolves

Tragic compliance (dharma upheld at personal/public cost)

For your practice

Invites contemplation on impermanence and non-attachment; transforms grief into śaraṇāgati toward Rāma as inner refuge.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Stunned, desolate, drained

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Itihasa
• Public grief
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Ayodhyā
• great forest (mahāraṇya)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the social dimension of dharma: a righteous leader’s presence sustains public morale; his forced absence wounds the collective life of the city.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma’s departure for long exile shocks Ayodhyā; the populace becomes stunned and weakened by grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s perceived righteousness and dependability—so central that the city’s strength seems tied to him.