Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 18

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

प्रतियाते महारण्यं चिररात्राय राघवे।बभूव नगरे मूर्छा बलमूर्छा जनस्य च।।।।

Transliteration

pratiyāte mahāraṇyaṃ cira-rātrāya rāghave | babhūva nagare mūrchā bala-mūrchā janasya ca ||

Translation

ರಾಘವನು ದೀರ್ಘಕಾಲ ಮಹಾರಣ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊರಟು ಹೋದಾಗ, ನಗರದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂರ್ಚೆ ಆವರಿಸಿತು; ಜನರೂ ಶಕ್ತಿಹೀನರಾಗಿ ಮೂರ್ಚಿತರಾದಂತೆ ಬಿದ್ದರು.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; refers to पुरम्

• समाकुलसम्भ्रान्तम्: confused and agitated
• समाकुलसम्भ्रान्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ākula-sambhrānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/समाहार-द्वन्द्ववत् संयुक्तविशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies पुरम्

• मत्तसङ्कुपितद्विपम्: having elephants intoxicated and enraged
• मत्तसङ्कुपितद्विपम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matta-saṅkupita-dvipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (मत्ताः सङ्कुपिताः द्विपाः यस्मिन्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies पुरम्

• हयशिञ्जितनिर्घोषम्: filled with the sound of horses’ tinkling/neighing
• हयशिञ्जितनिर्घोषम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: haya-śiñjita-nirghoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (हयानां शिञ्जितस्य निर्घोषः यस्मिन्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies पुरम्

• पुरम्: city
• पुरम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आसीत्: was/became
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• महास्वनम्: loud-roaring/with great noise
• महास्वनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-svana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् स्वनः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective of पुरम्

Context

The city was distressed and flurried by the intoxicated elephants, provoked by themighty sound of the tinkling of bells and the neighing of the horses.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Ayodhyā
• great forest (mahāraṇya)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the social dimension of dharma: a righteous leader’s presence sustains public morale; his forced absence wounds the collective life of the city.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma’s departure for long exile shocks Ayodhyā; the populace becomes stunned and weakened by grief.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s perceived righteousness and dependability—so central that the city’s strength seems tied to him.