Valmiki Ramayana 2.48.1-2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 48, Shlokas 1-2
अयोध्यायाः शोकवर्णनम्
Ayodhya’s Lament and Civic Desolation
Setting: अयोध्या (returning citizens within/near the city)Return after accompanying Rama (anugamya nivṛtta)
तेषामेवं विषण्णानां पीडितानामतीव च ।
बाष्पविप्लुतनेत्राणां सशोकानां मुमूर्षया ॥१॥
अनुगम्य निवृत्तानां रामं नगरवासिनाम् ।
उद्गतानीव सत्वानि बभूवुरमनस्विनाम् ॥२॥
teṣām evaṁ viṣaṇṇānāṁ pīḍitānām atīva ca |
bāṣpa-vipluta-netrāṇāṁ saśokānāṁ mumūrṣayā ||1||
anugamya nivṛttānāṁ rāmaṁ nagaravāsinām |
udgatānīva satvāni babhūvur amanasvinām ||2||
जो नगर वाले राम के पीछे गए थे, वो वापस आए। पर उनका दिल टूट गया था। आँखों में आँसू थे, मन में दर्द था। जैसे उनकी जान ही निकल गई हो, ऐसे लग रहे थे।
Sandhi Notes
- तेषामेवं → तेषाम् + एवम्
- पीडितानामतीव → पीडितानाम् + अतीव
- बभूवुरमनस्विनाम् → बभूवुः + अमनस्विनाम्
The people afflicted with sorrow followed Rama and returned to the city deeply distressed. Eyes overflowing with tears, they longed for death. Smitten with grief, they lost their high-mindedness and looked as if their life had been drained out.
The teaching
धर्मात्मा-पुरुष-वियोगे लोकस्य मनोबलं क्षीयते; शोकः सामूहिकं चित्तं शून्यं करोति।
- Ethical theme
- शोक-प्रकृति/मानस-धर्म
For your practice
विरह-भक्ति: प्रिय-धर्मात्मा-वियोगे स्मरणं, करुणा-चित्त-शुद्धि।
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion), with Bhayanaka (fear)
- Mood
- Hollowed, despairing, tear-drenched
Themes
- Dharma
- Satya
- Grief
- Rajadharma
- Itihasa
- Ethics
प्राण-उद्गमन-उपमा—चित्त-आश्रय-नाशे प्राणवत् मनोबलस्य क्षयः (when the support is lost, inner vitality collapses).
प्राण-मनस्-संबन्ध की छाया—शोकात् मनोबल-क्षयः (general resonance with prāṇa as life-support).
अयोध्याकाण्ड: राम-वियोगे नगरजन-विलाप (2.47–2.49); महाभारत: पाण्डव-वनवासे हस्तिनापुर-शोक-वर्णन (thematic parallel); रामचरितमानस: अयोध्या-काण्ड, राम-वियोग में नगर-शून्यता
वेद/उपनिषद्: प्राण-उपमा (general)
2.48.20 (city becomes unlivable); 2.49.* (continued lament and political blame)
अनुष्टुप्
Grieving
मन्द्र-दीर्घ-स्वरः विलाप-गति
FAQs
The verse highlights the social and moral shock when dharma-centered leadership is removed: the people’s anguish signals how deeply a righteous ruler anchors collective well-being.
The citizens, having tried to accompany Rāma after his exile and then returning to Ayodhya, are depicted in extreme sorrow and emotional collapse.
Rāma’s perceived righteousness and trustworthiness—so central that separation from him drains the citizens’ courage and vitality.
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