Valmiki Ramayana 2.48.17: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 17
अयोध्यायाः शोकवर्णनम्
Ayodhya’s Lament and Civic Desolation
Ideational climax within the march narrative: defining Rama as refuge
पादच्छाया सुखा भर्तुस्तादृशस्य महात्मनः ।
स हि नाथो जनस्यास्य स गति स्सपरायणम् ॥१७॥
pādacchāyā sukhā bhartus tādṛśasya mahātmanaḥ |
sa hi nātho janasyāsya sa gatiḥ sa parāyaṇam ||17||
അത്തരം മഹാത്മാവായ ഭർത്താവിന്റെ പാദഛായ പോലും സുഖമാണ്. അവൻ തന്നെയാണ് ഈ ജനത്തിന്റെ നാഥൻ—അവൻ തന്നെയാണ് അവരുടെ വഴി, അവരുടെ ലക്ഷ്യം, അവരുടെ പരമാശ്രയം.
Sandhi Notes
- pādacchāyā = pāda-chāyā
- ssaparāyaṇam in some readings = sa parāyaṇam (visarga/sibilant assimilation in transmission)
The shadow of the feet of this magnanimous lord will give us happiness. He alone is the goal and protector of all these people. He is the supreme refuge.
The teaching
True leadership is refuge: proximity to the righteous—even symbolized as ‘foot-shadow’—brings welfare; the protector’s role is the people’s highest support.
- Ethical theme
- Rājadharma/śaraṇāgati
Devotion and practice
Excellent for śaraṇāgati-bhāvanā; recite to cultivate reliance on Rama as gati and parāyaṇa.
- Deity praised
- Rama
- Form of praise
- Vandana (salutation)
- Mantra
- स हि नाथो जनस्यास्य
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace), with Karuna (compassion)
- Mood
- Surrendering, consoled, steadfast
Themes
- Dharma
- Satya
- Ethics
- Refuge (śaraṇāgati)
- Kingship and protection
Guru/Īśvara as gati and parāyaṇa: the ultimate resort; ‘foot’ imagery parallels dependence on the highest support (āśraya).
Kaṭha Upaniṣad’s ‘paramaṃ gatiṃ’ resonance: the highest goal as refuge; also the motif of approaching the worthy for śreyas.
- People and Rama
- Protector-sovereign as refuge of subjects (devoted)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.48.15 (fearlessness where Rama is); Rāmacaritamānasa (Bharata’s śaraṇāgati and ‘Rama as refuge’ refrains); Mahābhārata Śānti/Anuśāsana themes: king as protector and refuge of subjects
Vedic/Smṛti ideal of the king as ‘nātha’ and ‘goptā’ (protector)
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: Bharata’s repeated insistence that Rama alone is rightful support of the people
Anuṣṭup
Solemn
Mandra (low register)
FAQs
It affirms the dharmic ideal of the ruler as nātha (protector): a just leader becomes the people’s refuge, showing that governance grounded in Satya and Dharma is itself a moral shelter.
Citizens express that their well-being and direction depend on Rama, intensifying their desire to accompany him.
Rama’s greatness of soul and protective compassion—he is seen as the people’s ultimate support.
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