Valmiki Ramayana 2.47.4 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 47, Shloka 4

अयोध्यायाः पौरविलापः

Lament of the Citizens of Ayodhya on Rama’s Absence

Devanagari script

धिगस्तु खलु निद्रां तां ययाऽपहृतचेतसः।नाद्य पश्यामहे रामं पृथूरस्कं महाभुजम्।।।।

Transliteration

dhig astu khalu nidrāṃ tāṃ yayā ’pahṛtacetasaḥ | na adya paśyāmahe rāmaṃ pṛthūraskaṃ mahābhujam ||

Translation

ನಮ್ಮ ಚೇತನೆಯನ್ನು ಕಸಿದುಕೊಂಡ ಆ ನಿದ್ರೆಗೆ ಧಿಕ್ಕಾರ! ಇಂದು ನಾವು ವಿಶಾಲವಕ್ಷಸ್ಥಲ, ಮಹಾಭುಜ ರಾಮನನ್ನು ಕಾಣಲಾರದೆ ಇದ್ದೇವೆ.

Word by Word

• dhik: fie! shame!
• dhik: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhik (अव्यय)
• Form: निन्दार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable interjection of censure)

• astu: let it be
• astu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• khalu: indeed
• khalu: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: khalu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः/अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• nidrām: sleep
• nidrām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nidrā (निद्रा प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (accusative), एकवचनम्

• tām: that
• tām: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (demonstrative)

• yayā: by which
• yayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (instrumental), एकवचनम्; सम्बन्धे हेतौ/करणे (by which)

• apahṛtacetasaḥ: whose minds are stolen away
• apahṛtacetasaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apahṛta (अप-हृ धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय) + cetas (चेतस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (अपहृतं चेतः येषाम्); पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम्

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपातः (negation)

• adya: today/now
• adya: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• paśyāmahe: we see
• paśyāmahe: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), उत्तमपुरुषः (1st person), बहुवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (राम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• pṛthūraskam: broad-chested
• pṛthūraskam: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pṛthu (पृथु प्रातिपदिक) + uras (उरस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: कर्मधारयः (पृथु उरः यस्य/पृथु-उरस्कः); पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; रामम् इति विशेषणम्

• mahābhujam: mighty-armed
• mahābhujam: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (महा प्रातिपदिक) + bhuja (भुज प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: कर्मधारयः (महान्तौ भुजौ यस्य); पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; रामम् इति विशेषणम्

Context

Anguished and drenched with tears of grief they looked hither and thither but could not find even a trace of Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Ayodhyā (implied)

FAQs

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

It warns against negligence: failing in vigilance can lead to irreversible loss, especially when one’s duty is to uphold and support dhārmic order.

What is the narrative situation?

The citizens reproach their own sleep/heedlessness as they realize Rāma has gone and they can no longer see him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s heroic strength is highlighted (broad-chested, mighty-armed), underscoring why his absence feels unbearable.