Shloka 24

द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः — दशरथस्य शोक-विलापः तथा कौशल्यागृह-प्रवेशः

Dasaratha’s Lament and Return to Kausalya’s Apartments

Devanagari script

शून्यचत्वरवेश्मान्तां संवृतापणदेवताम्।क्लान्तदुर्बलदुःखार्तां नात्याकीर्णमहापथाम्।।2.42.23।।तामवेक्ष्य पुरीं सर्वां राममेवानुचिन्तयन्।विलपन् प्राविशद्राजा गृहं सूर्य इवाम्बुदम्।।2.42.24।।

Transliteration

śūnyacatvara-veśmāntāṃ saṃvṛtāpaṇa-devatām |

klānta-durbala-duḥkhārtāṃ nātyākīrṇa-mahāpathām || (2.42.23)

tām avekṣya purīṃ sarvāṃ rāmam evānucintayan |

vilapan prāviśad rājā gṛhaṃ sūrya ivāmbudam || (2.42.24)

Translation

Melihat seluruh kota demikian, baginda hanya mengenang Rāma; sambil meratap baginda pun memasuki istana, laksana matahari masuk ke balik awan.

Word by Word

• महाह्रदम्: a great lake/tank
• महाह्रदम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-ह्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः/नपुंसकलिङ्गः (प्रयोगे नपुंसकं), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (महान् ह्रदः)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamāna-marker (उपमा-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्ययम्

• अक्षोभ्यम्: unagitated
• अक्षोभ्यम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-क्षोभ्य (प्रातिपदिक; √क्षुभ्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (unperturbed)

• सुपर्णेन: by Suparna (Garuda)
• सुपर्णेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुपर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• हृतोरगम्: from which the serpent has been snatched away
• हृतोरगम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृत-उरग (प्रातिपदिक; √हृ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (हृतः उरगः यस्मात्/यत्र) — उपमान-वर्णनम्

• रामेण: by/with Rama
• रामेण: Apādāna/Hetu (वियोग-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• रहितम्: devoid of
• रहितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; अत्र वेश्म विशेषणम् (devoid of)

• वेश्म: the palace/house
• वेश्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेश्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• वैदेह्या: with/by Vaidehi (Sita)
• वैदेह्या: Apādāna/Hetu (वियोग-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• लक्ष्मणेन: with/by Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणेन: Apādāna/Hetu (वियोग-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

Context

There the mansions and squares on the highways were all deserted. The temples and marketplaces were closed. The people were weak, fatigued and tormented with grief. The highways were not much crowded. Having seen such a sight of the city on all sides, lamenting and brooding over Rama, Dasaratha entered his palace like the Sun plunging into a cloud.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Ayodhyā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Even in duplicated transmission, the ethical point remains: adharma in governance produces collective suffering; dharma sustains civic vitality.

What is the narrative situation?

The source repeats the prior description while numbering it as a separate verse entry (a formatting/recensional presentation).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s implicit virtue is underscored by the city’s reaction—his absence itself becomes the measure of loss.