Valmiki Ramayana 2.48.11 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 11

अयोध्यायाः शोकवर्णनम्

Ayodhya’s Lament and Civic Desolation

Devanagari script

काननं वापि शैलं वा यं रामोऽधिगमिष्यति।प्रियातिथिमिव प्राप्तं नैनं शक्ष्यन्त्यनर्चितुम्।।2.48.11।।

Transliteration

kānanaṃ vāpi śailaṃ vā yaṃ rāmo ’dhigamiṣyati |

priyātithim iva prāptaṃ nainaṃ śakṣyanty anarcitum || 2.48.11 ||

Translation

രാമൻ ഏതു വനത്തിലേക്കോ പർവതത്തിലേക്കോ സമീപിച്ചാലും, അത് അവനെ പ്രിയ അതിഥിയെപ്പോലെ വന്നവനായി സ്വീകരിക്കും; ആദരമില്ലാതെ അവനെ വിടാൻ അതിന് കഴിയുകയില്ല.

Word by Word

• kānanam: forest
• kānanam: Karma (कर्म; object of adhigamiṣyati)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक)

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

• śailam: mountain
• śailam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक)

• yam: which
• yam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular; relative pronoun referring to kānana/śaila

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• adhigamiṣyati: will reach; will approach
• adhigamiṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi-√gam (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• priya-atithim: a dear guest
• priya-atithim: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya-atithi (प्रातिपदिक; priya + atithi)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle (उपमावाचक)

• prāptam: arrived
• prāptam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāpta (कृदन्त; pra-√āp (धातु))
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying enam (Rama): 'arrived'

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; negation of verb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• enam: him
• enam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam/enad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; enclitic pronoun

• śakṣyanti: will be able
• śakṣyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śak (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Plural

• anarcitum: to fail to honor
• anarcitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन; complement of śakṣyanti)
• Type: Verb
• Root: an-√arc (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), 'to not honor/worship'

Context

Whichever hill or forest Rama visits, people will receive him there like a welcome guest and will not fail to render hospitality to him.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• forest (kānana)
• mountain (śaila)

FAQs

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

Atithi-dharma (honouring a guest) is universalized: Rama’s righteousness makes even the forest and mountains ‘owe’ him honour, suggesting that Dharma elicits reverence wherever it goes.

What is the narrative situation?

The speakers imagine Rama’s reception in the wilderness, expressing confidence that he will be welcomed and cared for.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s worthiness of honour—his moral stature naturally draws reverence and protection.