Valmiki Ramayana 2.47.18 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 47, Shloka 18

अयोध्यायाः पौरविलापः

Lament of the Citizens of Ayodhya on Rama’s Absence

Devanagari script

चन्द्रहीनमिवाकाशं तोयहीनमिवार्णवम्।अपश्यन्निहतानन्दं नगरं ते विचेतसः।।।।

Transliteration

candrahīnam ivākāśaṃ toyahīnam ivārṇavam | apaśyan nihatānandaṃ nagaraṃ te vicetasaḥ ||

Translation

ദുഃഖത്തിൽ വിഹ്വലമായ മനസ്സോടെ അവർ ആനന്ദം നശിച്ച നഗരത്തെ കണ്ടു—ചന്ദ്രനില്ലാത്ത ആകാശംപോലെ, ജലമില്ലാത്ത സമുദ്രംപോലെ.

Word by Word

• चन्द्र-हीनम्: moonless
• चन्द्र-हीनम्: Karma (कर्म—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चन्द्रेण हीनम्) विशेषण आकाशम्

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध—comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमार्थक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• आकाशम्: sky
• आकाशम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

• तोय-हीनम्: waterless
• तोय-हीनम्: Karma (कर्म—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तोयेन हीनम्) विशेषण आर्णवम्

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध—comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमार्थक-अव्यय

• आर्णवम्: ocean
• आर्णवम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान

• अपश्यन्: they saw
• अपश्यन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; छान्दस/एपिक रूप: अपश्यन् (= अपश्यन्/अपश्यन् ते)

• निहत-आनन्दम्: with joy destroyed
• निहत-आनन्दम्: Karma (कर्म—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निहत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (निहतः आनन्दः यस्य) विशेषण नगरम्

• नगरम्: the city
• नगरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विचेतसः: distraught/overcome
• विचेतसः: Karta (कर्ता—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण ते

Context

There are plenty of dry logs of wood. We will prepare a pyre with them, set fire to it and we all will enter it.

Characters & Entities

• Moon (candra)
• Ocean (ārṇava)
• Rāma (implied cause of joy’s loss)

FAQs

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

The verse shows how dharmic leadership sustains social well-being; when righteousness is exiled, collective happiness collapses.

What is the narrative situation?

The people observe Ayodhyā after Rāma’s departure and perceive it as emptied of joy and auspiciousness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s auspicious, life-giving presence is implied—his absence is compared to cosmic deprivation (moonless sky, waterless ocean).