Valmiki Ramayana 2.59.15: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 59, Shloka 15
एकोनषष्ठितमः सर्गः (Sarga 59): सुमन्त्रवाक्यं, अयोध्याविषादः, दाशरथिशोकसागरः
Spoken by Sumantra to King DaśarathaSetting: Ayodhyā, rāja-mārga (king’s highway)Places named: rāja-mārga (king’s highway), AyodhyāReturn of the royal chariot from Rama’s departure
देव राजरथं दृष्ट्वा विना राममिहागतम् ।
दुःखादश्रुमुखस्सर्वो राजमार्गगतो जनः ॥१५॥
deva rājarathaṃ dṛṣṭvā vinā rāmam ihāgatam |
duḥkhād aśru-mukhaḥ sarvo rāja-mārga-gato janaḥ ||15||
राजा साहब, रथ आया देखो। पर राम उसमें नहीं था। सड़क पे जो लोग थे, सब रो दिए। उनके चेहरे आंसू से गीला हो गए। बड़ा दुख लगा उनको।
Sandhi Notes
- rāmamihāgatam → rāmam iha āgatam
- duḥkhādaśrumukhaḥ → duḥkhāt aśru-mukhaḥ
- rājamārgagato → rāja-mārga-gataḥ
Beholding the royal chariot arrive without Rama, all were on the highway shedding tears of anguish.
The teaching
A ruler’s realm shares the fate of its dharmic heir; collective grief reveals the bond between ideal leadership and public well-being.
- Ethical theme
- Social dharma / rāṣṭra-bhāva
For your practice
Bhakti expressed as shared sorrow in separation; contemplation on non-attachment while honoring love.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion)
- Mood
- Public lament, hollow return, tear-soaked
Themes
- Itihasa
- Dharma
- Satya
- Public grief
- Kingship
The ‘absence’ becomes a negative pointer (neti-neti style) revealing attachment; sorrow arises from identification with the beloved form.
Bṛhadāraṇyaka-like insight: grief follows from ‘priya’ (dear) when separated; attachment is the seed of śoka.
- People of Ayodhya and Rama
- Subjects devoted to the prince (devotional-sorrow)
- Sumantra and People of Ayodhya
- Charioteer returning; witness to public grief (shared-grief)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.60 (Ayodhyā’s collective mourning continues); Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.33-2.35 (citizens’ love for Rama and reactions)
Rāmacaritamānasa Ayodhyākāṇḍa: nagara-śoka on Rama’s exile
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: repeated motif of ‘Rāma-rahita’ Ayodhyā and public tears
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Grieving
Slow vilambita, descending phrases on ‘vinā rāma’ and ‘duḥkhāt’
FAQs
Dharma is shown as the moral bond between ruler, prince, and people: Rama’s absence is felt as a rupture in righteous order, producing collective sorrow.
Sumantra describes Ayodhya’s reaction when the chariot returns without Rama after the exile begins.
The people’s loyalty and love for Rama, reflecting recognition of his righteous character.
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