Valmiki Ramayana 2.48.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 2

अयोध्यायाः शोकवर्णनम्

Ayodhya’s Lament and Civic Desolation

Devanagari script

तेषामेवं विषण्णानां पीडितानामतीव च।बाष्पविप्लुतनेत्राणां सशोकानां मुमूर्षया।।2.48.1।।अनुगम्य निवृत्तानां रामं नगरवासिनाम्।उद्गतानीव सत्वानि बभूवुरमनस्विनाम्।।2.48.2।।

Transliteration

teṣām evaṃ viṣaṇṇānāṃ pīḍitānām atīva ca |

bāṣpa-vipluta-netrāṇāṃ saśokānāṃ mumūrṣayā || 2.48.1 ||

anugamya nivṛttānāṃ rāmaṃ nagaravāsinām |

udgatānīva satvāni babhūvur amanasvinām || 2.48.2 ||

Translation

ラーマに従って行き、のちに都へ戻った市民たちは、ことごとく沈み込み、甚だしく苦しめられていた。涙に濡れた眼で、悲嘆と死を願う思いに押し潰され、まるで命の息が去り、心の決意が空になったかのようであった。

Word by Word

• स्वम्: one's own
• स्वम्: Karma (कर्म—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण निलयम् (repeated distributively)

• स्वम्: (each) his own
• स्वम्: Karma (कर्म—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति-वितरणार्थ (each his own)

• निलयम्: home
• निलयम्: Karma (कर्म—goal of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आगम्य: having reached
• आगम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• पुत्र-दारैः: with sons and wives
• पुत्र-दारैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह—accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (sons and wives)

• समावृताः: surrounded
• समावृताः: Karta (कर्ता—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण सर्वे

• अश्रूणि: tears
• अश्रूणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• मुमुचुः: they released/shed
• मुमुचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• बाष्पेण: with tears
• बाष्पेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• पिहित-आननाः: with faces covered
• पिहित-आननाः: Karta (कर्ता—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पि-धा (धातु) + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) 'पिहित' + तत्पुरुषः (पिहितम् आननं येषाम्)

Context

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.

Characters & Entities

• Rama

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the community’s moral bond to a righteous leader: when Dharma is embodied in Rama, separation from him feels like separation from life itself. It underlines how public virtue and righteous kingship (rāja-dharma) sustain social and emotional order.

What is the narrative situation?

After accompanying Rama for some distance during his departure for exile, the citizens turn back toward Ayodhya; on returning, they are overwhelmed by grief and appear lifeless with sorrow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s perceived steadfastness in Dharma and Satya is implicit: the citizens’ despair shows how deeply they trust his righteousness, making him their refuge and moral center.