Valmiki Ramayana 2.48.17 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 17

अयोध्यायाः शोकवर्णनम्

Ayodhya’s Lament and Civic Desolation

Devanagari script

पादच्छाया सुखा भर्तुस्तादृशस्य महात्मनः।स हि नाथो जनस्यास्य स गति स्सपरायणम्।।2.48.17।।

Transliteration

pādacchāyā sukhā bhartus tādṛśasya mahātmanaḥ |

sa hi nātho janasyāsya sa gatiḥ sa parāyaṇam || 2.48.17 ||

Translation

അത്തരം മഹാത്മാവായ ഭർത്താവിന്റെ പാദഛായ പോലും സുഖമാണ്. അവൻ തന്നെയാണ് ഈ ജനത്തിന്റെ നാഥൻ—അവൻ തന്നെയാണ് അവരുടെ വഴി, അവരുടെ ലക്ഷ്യം, അവരുടെ പരമാശ്രയം.

Word by Word

• pāda-chāyā: the shadow of (his) feet
• pāda-chāyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + chāyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa samāsa (तत्पुरुष) = pādasya chāyā; Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā, Ekavacana

• sukhā: pleasant
• sukhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; Predicate adjective qualifying pāda-chāyā

• bhartuḥ: of the lord/master
• bhartuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/षष्ठी), Ekavacana

• tādṛśasya: of such a kind
• tādṛśasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tādṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; Viśeṣaṇa of bhartuḥ/mahātmanaḥ (genitive concord)

• mahātmanaḥ: of the great-souled one
• mahātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, Emphatic particle (निपात)

• nāthaḥ: protector / lord
• nāthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• janasya: of the people
• janasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• asya: of these / of this
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga/napuṃsaka, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• gatiḥ: refuge / goal
• gatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• parāyaṇam: supreme resort
• parāyaṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Context

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.

Characters & Entities

• Rama

FAQs

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

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.

What is the narrative situation?

Citizens express that their well-being and direction depend on Rama, intensifying their desire to accompany him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s greatness of soul and protective compassion—he is seen as the people’s ultimate support.