Valmiki Ramayana 2.48.25 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 25

अयोध्यायाः शोकवर्णनम्

Ayodhya’s Lament and Civic Desolation

Devanagari script

उपद्रुतमिदं सर्वमनालम्बमनायकम्।कैकेय्या हि कृते सर्वं विनाशमुपयास्यति।।2.48.25।।

Transliteration

upadrutam idaṁ sarvam anālambam anāyakam |

kaikeyyā hi kṛte sarvaṁ vināśam upayāsyati || 2.48.25 ||

Translation

ഈ സമസ്ത രാജ്യം ഉപദ്രവത്തിൽ പീഡിതമാണ്—ആശ്രയമില്ലാതെ, യഥാർത്ഥ നായകനില്ലാതെ; കൈകേയിയുടെ കാരണത്താൽ ഇതെല്ലാം നാശത്തിലേക്ക് തന്നെ നീങ്ങും.

Word by Word

• upadrutam: afflicted, distressed
• upadrutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upadruta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √dru/द्रु + उपसर्ग upa)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (sg); भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• sarvam: all, entire
• sarvam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• anālambam: without support
• anālambam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-ālamba (प्रातिपदिक; नञ् + आलम्ब)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (negative)

• anāyakam: leaderless
• anāyakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-āyaka (प्रातिपदिक; नञ् + आयक/नायक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (negative)

• kaikeyyā: by Kaikeyi
• kaikeyyā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), तृतीया (Instr), एकवचन; करण/हेतु-निर्देश (by/through)

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/कारणार्थक (indeed/for)

• kṛte: for the sake of, because of
• kṛte: Hetu/Nimitta (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ/कृ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc), एकवचन; कृत (PPP) प्रयोगः—'कृते' = 'for the sake of/at the instance of' (हेतौ/निमित्ते)

• sarvam: everything (all this)
• sarvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; पूर्वोक्तस्य 'इदम्' इत्यस्य पुनरुक्त-समष्टिवाचक

• vināśam: destruction
• vināśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vināśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन

• upayāsyati: will go to, will meet with
• upayāsyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√yā (धातु; या + उपसर्ग upa)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

The entire kingdom, for the sake of Kaikeyi, is under a great calamity. With no support or leader it will definitely go to ruin.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Rajadharma requires stable, rightful leadership; removing a dharmic heir destabilizes society and is depicted as leading to collective harm.

What is the narrative situation?

With Rāma exiled and Daśaratha emotionally shattered, the citizens foresee a leaderless Ayodhya sliding into disorder.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The necessity of responsible leadership—implied praise of Rāma’s capacity to be the kingdom’s support (ālamba).