Valmiki Ramayana 2.47.19: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 47, Shloka 19
अयोध्यायाः पौरविलापः
Lament of the Citizens of Ayodhya on Rama’s Absence
Setting: Ayodhyā (implied)After returning from following Rāma (implied by context)
ते तानि वेश्मानि महाधनानि दुःखेन दुःखोपहता विशन्तः ।
नैव प्रजज्ञुः स्वजनं जनं वा निरीक्षमाणाः प्रविनष्टहर्षाः ॥१९॥
te tāni veśmāni mahādhanāni duḥkhena duḥkhopahatā viśantaḥ |
naiva prajajñuḥ svajanaṃ janaṃ vā nirīkṣamāṇāḥ pravinaṣṭaharṣāḥ ||19||
वो लोग बड़े दुख के साथ उस घर में गए। घर में सब कुछ था, पैसे भी बहुत थे। पर उनका दिल इतना दुखी था कि कुछ नहीं दिखता था। अपने लोगों को देख के भी पहचान नहीं पा रहे थे। अपने ही पराए लग रहे थे। खुशी खत्म हो गई थी।
Sandhi Notes
- दुःखोपहता → दुःख + उपहताः
- नैव → न + एव
Those people devoid of delight entered their rich mansions with great difficulty. Even though they, stricken with sorrow, looked at men and their own kinsmen they could not recognise them.ইত্যার্ষে শ্রীমদ্রামাযণে বাল্মীকীয আদিকাব্যে অযোধ্যাকাণ্ডে সপ্তচত্বারিংশস্সর্গঃ৷৷Thus ends the fortyseventh sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
The teaching
Śoka can eclipse even basic recognition and social bonds; prosperity without inner steadiness cannot protect the mind from collapse.
- Ethical theme
- Psychology of grief / communal dharma under crisis
For your practice
Contemplation on impermanence and the need for steadiness (dhairya) in adversity; supports vairāgya and compassion practices.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)
- Mood
- Numbed, bereft, disoriented
Themes
- Dharma
- Satya
- Itihasa
- Ethics
- Grief psychology
- Social disorientation
Grief as avidyā-clouding of buddhi: when mind is overpowered by śoka, recognition (pratyabhijñā) fails; parallels the notion that tamas/rajas obscure discernment.
Katha Upaniṣad motif: when the mind is not steady, the senses and cognition fail to ‘know’ rightly; also the idea that the Self is not reached by the grief-stricken mind (śoka as obstacle).
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.48.1-2 (citizens’ tearful return and lifelessness); Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.42-2.46 (Ayodhyā’s collective lament during Rāma’s departure)
Mahābhārata: grief causing loss of recognition and social disorientation in war-lament passages (Strīparvan tone)
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: repeated motif of ‘hṛṣṭa-harṣa-vināśa’ and ‘bāṣpa-pluta’ eyes among citizens
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Grieving
Mandra-niṣāda to madhyama, slow vilambita cadence
FAQs
It implies that dharma is not merely private; when public righteousness is disrupted, even ordinary social bonds and recognition can fracture.
After returning, citizens enter their homes in deep sorrow and, in shock, fail to recognize even familiar faces.
Rāma’s significance as the city’s moral and emotional anchor is emphasized indirectly—his absence destabilizes normal life.
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