Valmiki Ramayana 2.45.5 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 5

अयोध्यावासिजनानुरागः

The People and Brahmins Follow Rama toward Exile

Devanagari script

अवेक्षमाणः सस्नेहं चक्षुषा प्रपिबन्निव।उवाच रामः स्नेहेन ताः प्रजाः स्वाः प्रजा इव।।।।

Transliteration

avekṣamāṇaḥ sa-snehaṃ cakṣuṣā prapibann iva |

uvāca rāmaḥ snehena tāḥ prajāḥ svāḥ prajā iva ||

Translation

സ്നേഹത്തോടെ അവരെ നോക്കി—കണ്ണുകളാൽ തന്നെ കുടിച്ചെടുക്കുന്നതുപോലെ—രാമൻ ആ ജനങ്ങളോടു സ്വന്തം മക്കളോടെന്നപോലെ മൃദുവായി സംസാരിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• avekṣamāṇaḥ: looking (at)
• avekṣamāṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of rāmaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-√īkṣ (धातु; ईक्ष्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; Śānac (present middle participle): 'looking at'

• sasneham: affectionately
• sasneham: Rīti (रीति/Adverbial manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sa-sneha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adverbially: 'with affection' (sa = 'with')

• cakṣuṣā: with (his) eyes
• cakṣuṣā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakṣus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• prapiban: drinking in
• prapiban: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of rāmaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√pā (धातु; पा)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; Śatṛ (present active participle)

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamādyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-vācaka (simile particle)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु; वच्)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• snehena: with affection
• snehena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sneha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; adverbial instrument

• tāḥ: those
• tāḥ: Karma (कर्म; object of uvāca in sense 'addressed')
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• prajāḥ: subjects/people
• prajāḥ: Karma (कर्म; those addressed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• svāḥ: his own
• svāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of prajāḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; agrees with prajāḥ

• prajāḥ: children
• prajāḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; upamāna in simile (children)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamādyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-vācaka

Context

Although entreated by his subjects (not to go) Rama proceeded to the forest to make his father's vow come true.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

The dharma of leadership includes compassion: even while fulfilling a hard duty, Rāma responds to his people with parental care and emotional responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

On the path of exile, Rāma sees the grieving citizens and prepares to address them, acknowledging their love and pain.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Empathy and protective affection: Rāma treats the subjects not merely as a crowd, but as dependents worthy of tenderness.