Opening the text
अयोध्यायाः पौरविलापः
Lament of the Citizens of Ayodhya on Rama’s Absence
शोकजाश्रुपरिद्यूना वीक्षमाणास्ततस्ततः ।
आलोकमपि रामस्य न पश्यन्ति स्म दुःखिताः ॥२॥
śokajāśruparidyūnā vīkṣamāṇās tataḥ tataḥ |
ālokam api rāmasya na paśyanti sma duḥkhitāḥ ||2||
Dilanda dukacita hingga basah oleh air mata, mereka memandang ke sana sini; namun dalam kesengsaraan tidak juga melihat walau sekelumit bayang Rama.
Anguished and drenched with tears of grief they looked hither and thither but could not find even a trace of Rama.
Dharma here appears as steadfast loyalty to a righteous leader; the citizens’ grief signals how deeply Rāma is associated with moral order and protection.
After Rāma’s departure for exile, the people of Ayodhyā search desperately but cannot find even a trace of him.
Rāma’s perceived virtue as a dhārmic protector is emphasized indirectly—his absence creates disorientation and sorrow among the people.
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Valmiki Ramayana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.