Valmiki Ramayana 2.47.17 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 47, Shloka 17

अयोध्यायाः पौरविलापः

Lament of the Citizens of Ayodhya on Rama’s Absence

Devanagari script

एषा रामेण नगरी रहिता नातिशोभते।आपगा गरुडेनेव ह्रदादुद्धृतपन्नगा।।।।

Transliteration

eṣā rāmeṇa nagarī rahitā nātiśobhate | āpagā garuḍeneva hradād uddhṛta-pannagā || 2.47.17 ||

Translation

രാമനില്ലാത്ത ഈ നഗരം അതിയായി ശോഭിക്കുന്നില്ല; ഗരുഡൻ ഹ്രദത്തിന്റെ ആഴത്തിൽ നിന്ന് സർപ്പങ്ങളെ എടുത്തുകളഞ്ഞാൽ നദി നിർജ്ജീവമായി തോന്നുന്നതുപോലെ.

Word by Word

• एषा: this
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देशवाचक

• रामेण: with/with respect to Rama (i.e., without Rama)
• रामेण: Apadana/Hetu (अपादान/हेतु—sense of separation: 'without')
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नगरी: the city
• नगरी: Karta (कर्ता—apposition to एषा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रहिता: devoid (of)
• रहिता: Karta (कर्ता—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying नगरी); तृतीया-सम्बन्ध (रामेण रहिता = devoid of Rama)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध—negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• अति: very/excessively
• अति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध—degree)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/अतिशयार्थक-अव्यय (intensifier)

• शोभते: shines/looks beautiful
• शोभते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• आपगा: a river
• आपगा: Upamana (उपमान—standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपगा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गरुडेनेव: as if by Garuḍa
• गरुडेनेव: Karana (करण—agent in simile)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गरुड (प्रातिपदिक) + इव (अव्यय)
• Form: गरुडेन: पुंलिङ्ग तृतीया एकवचन; इव: उपमार्थक-अव्यय (like); together expresses comparison

• ह्रदात्: from the lake
• ह्रदात्: Apadana (अपादान—source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ह्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• उद्धृत-पन्नगा: from which the snakes have been lifted away
• उद्धृत-पन्नगा: Upamana (उपमान—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-हृ (धातु) + पन्नग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) 'उद्धृत' + तत्पुरुषः (उद्धृताः पन्नगाः यस्याः) विशेषण आपगा

Context

This city without Rama just as a river with serpents lifted away by Garuda from its depths looks no longer beautiful.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhya
• Rama
• Garuda

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as a life-giving presence: Rama’s righteousness is seen as integral to the city’s vitality and order; without it, the community appears diminished.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator describes Ayodhya’s beauty fading in Rama’s absence, using a vivid simile involving Garuḍa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s sustaining moral charisma—his dhārmic presence is depicted as essential to the city’s flourishing.