Valmiki Ramayana 2.48.29-31: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 48, Shlokas 29-31
अयोध्यायाः शोकवर्णनम्
Ayodhya’s Lament and Civic Desolation
पूर्णचन्द्रानन श्श्यामो गूढजत्रुररिन्दमः ।
आजानुबाहुः पद्माक्षो रामो लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः ॥२९॥
पूर्वाभिभाषी मधुर स्सत्यवादी महाबलः ।
सौम्यस्सर्वस्य लोकस्य चन्द्रवत्प्रियदर्शनः ॥३०॥
नूनं पुरुषशार्दूलो मत्तमातङ्गविक्रमः ।
शोभयिष्यत्यरण्यानि विचरन् स महारथः ॥३१॥
pūrṇacandrānana śśyāmo gūḍhajatrurarindamaḥ |
ājānubāhuḥ padmākṣo rāmo lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ ||29||
pūrvābhibhāṣī madhura ssatyavādī mahābalaḥ |
saumyassarvasya lokasya candravatpriyadarśanaḥ ||30||
nūnaṃ puruṣaśārdūlo mattamātaṅgavikramaḥ |
śobhayiṣyatyaraṇyāni vicaran sa mahārathaḥ ||31||
राम के चेहरे पर चाँद जैसी चमक थी। रंग साँला था, पर सुंदर लगता था। दुश्मनों को हराने वाला था। हाथ घुटनों तक लंबे थे। आँखें कमल के फूल जैसी थी। पहले बोलता था, बात में मधुरता थी। हमेशा सच बोलता था। बहुत ताकतवाला था। सबसे आराम से बात करता था। जैसे चाँद सबको अच्छा लगता है, वैसे ही उसका चेहरा सबको पसंद आता था। यह शेर जैसा इंसान जंगल में घूमेगा तो जंगल भी सुंदर हो जाएगा। जैसे नशे में हाथी चलता है, वैसी ही उसकी चाल थी।
Rama, elder brother to Lakshmana is a tiger among men, a subduer of enemies, powerful like an intoxicated elephant, and a great charioteer. Blue in complexion, he has a face like the full Moon. He has lotus-like eyes, knee-long arms and fleshy clavicles. Endowed with a sweet nature, he always speaks the truth and the first to speak to others. When he roams the forest, charming like the Moon and pleasing to the whole world, he will surely make it look graceful.
FAQs
The verse illustrates the profound sense of loss and injustice felt by the citizens when a righteous and virtuous prince like Rama is exiled. It highlights the Dharma of a king's duty to his subjects and the reciprocal devotion subjects have toward a righteous ruler. The detailed description of Rama's virtues serves to emphasize the magnitude of the loss to the kingdom.
The women of Ayodhya are lamenting Rama's exile. They describe his noble qualities, physical beauty, and virtuous nature, expressing their grief that such an exemplary prince has been banished to the forest. This occurs after Dasharatha's decision to exile Rama, as part of the collective mourning sweeping through the city.
The verse emphasizes Rama's complete embodiment of virtues: his physical perfection (lotus eyes, moon-like face), his moral excellence (truthfulness, sweet nature), his strength (tiger among men, valor of an elephant), and his gentle demeanor toward all beings. He is portrayed as the ideal prince whose very presence beautifies the forest.
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