Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.33: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 33

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

निर्गच्छति महाबाहौ रामे पौरजनाश्रुभिः।पतितैरभ्यवहितं प्रशशाम महीरजः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.40.33

Transliteration

nirgacchati mahābāhau rāme paurajanāśrubhiḥ | patitair abhyavahitaṃ praśaśāma mahīrajaḥ ||

Translation

大いなる腕のラーマが去るとき、大地から舞い上がった塵は、民の落ちる涙に鎮められ、静かに収まっていった。

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Word by Word

• nirgacchati: (when he) was going out
• nirgacchati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir + gam (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• mahābāhau: in/when the mighty-armed (Rama)
• mahābāhau: Adhikaraṇa-viśeṣaṇa (अधिकरण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of rāme)

• rāme: when Rama (was departing)
• rāme: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative absolute-like)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• paurajanaāśrubhiḥ: with the citizens' tears
• paurajanaāśrubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paura-jana (प्रातिपदिक) + aśru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (paurajanānām aśrubhiḥ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग ‘अश्रु’ (collective), तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• patitaiḥ: fallen (down)
• patitaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: patita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक-सम्भव, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of aśrubhiḥ)

• abhyavahitam: covered, laid down
• abhyavahitam: Karma-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्मसमानााधिकरण/predicative of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi + ava + hā (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘आवृत/अवहित’

• praśaśāma: subsided, became quiet
• praśaśāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + śam (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• mahīrajaḥ: dust of the earth
• mahīrajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक) + rajas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (mahīyāḥ rajaḥ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

As the mighty-armed Rama was going away, the dust raised from the earth subsided with the tears falling from the citizens' (eyes).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown through collective empathy: the people’s tears reflect moral attachment to a righteous prince and sorrow at the cost of truth-keeping and duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma’s chariot moves away, raising dust; the citizens’ weeping is so intense that it metaphorically (and physically) dampens and settles the dust.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The citizens’ devotion and compassion—recognition of Rāma’s virtue and suffering in dharmic exile.