Valmiki Ramayana 2.47.1: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 47, Shloka 1

अयोध्यायाः पौरविलापः

Lament of the Citizens of Ayodhya on Rama’s Absence

Setting: Ayodhyā

Devanagari script

प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां पौरास्ते राघवं विना ।

शोकोपहतनिश्चेष्टा बभूवुर्हतचेतसः ॥१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.47.1

Transliteration

prabhātāyāṃ tu śarvaryāṃ paurās te rāghavaṃ vinā |

śokopahata-niśceṣṭā babhūvur hata-cetasaḥ ||1||

Translation

രാത്രി പ്രഭാതത്തിലേക്ക് മാറുമ്പോൾ, രാഘവനെ കാണാതെ ആ പൗരന്മാർ ദുഃഖംകൊണ്ട് മനസ്സു തകർന്നു, ബോധം മങ്ങിയും ചലനമറ്റവരുമായി മാറി.

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Word by Word

• śokajāśru-paridyūnāḥ: drenched by grief-born tears
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka-ja-aśru-paridyūna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain; Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies (paurāḥ understood)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• vīkṣamāṇāḥ: looking
• Type: Verb
• Root: √īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमानकृदन्त), Parasmaipada sense; Masculine, Nominative, Plural
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• tataḥ: from there / here
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• tataḥ: and there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (reduplicated: 'here and there')
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• ālokam: sight/trace
• Type: Noun
• Root: āloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• api: even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) 'even'
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• rāmasya: of Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• paśyanti: see
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्, present), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• sma: (past marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle indicating past/habitual with present form (स्म-निपात)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• duḥkhitāḥ: distressed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies subject
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

Sandhi Notes

• śokajāśru-paridyūnāḥ is a multi-member compound
• tatas tataḥ = 'hither and thither'

Context

When the night advanced towards dawn the citizens were stunned not to see the scion of the Raghus (Rama). Overwhelmed with sorrow they lost their senses.

The teaching

Even rightful dharma can cause widespread sorrow; compassion must accompany governance and obedience.

Duties in tension

• Subjects+cs attachment to their ideal prince vs acceptance of royal dharma that sends him away
• Personal emotion vs civic endurance

Ethical theme

Rājadharma / loka-saṅgraha

How it resolves

Unresolved in this verse; grief overwhelms agency

For your practice

Practice of witnessing grief without collapse; remembrance (smaraṇa) of Rāma as inner support when outer supports vanish.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Bhayanaka (fear)

Mood

Numb, bereft, dawning-sorrow

Themes

• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Grief
• Devotion to Rama

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhya citizens (paurāḥ)
• Raghava (Rama)
• Ayodhya (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown through collective loyalty and moral attachment to a righteous ruler; the citizens’ grief reflects how deeply they value Rama’s truthfulness and rightful conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

At dawn, the citizens realize Rama is not with them; the shock of separation leaves them stunned.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The citizens’ fidelity (anurāga) to a dhārmic prince—an ethical bond between ruler and people.