Valmiki Ramayana 2.47.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 47, Shloka 2

अयोध्यायाः पौरविलापः

Lament of the Citizens of Ayodhya on Rama’s Absence

Devanagari script

शोकजाश्रुपरिद्यूना वीक्षमाणास्ततस्ततः।आलोकमपि रामस्य न पश्यन्ति स्म दुःखिताः।।।।

Transliteration

śokajāśruparidyūnā vīkṣamāṇās tataḥ tataḥ | ālokam api rāmasya na paśyanti sma duḥkhitāḥ ||

Translation

Aflitos e encharcados de lágrimas nascidas da dor, olhavam para todos os lados; mas, na angústia, não viam sequer o menor vestígio de Rāma.

Word by Word

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• viṣādārta-vadanāḥ: with faces pained by sorrow
• viṣādārta-vadanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣāda-ārta-vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain; Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies te

• rahitāḥ: bereft (of)
• rahitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √rah (धातु) > rahita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: PPP-like adjectival (क्त); Masculine, Nominative, Plural; 'deprived/separated'

• tena: by/with him
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• dhīmatā: the wise one
• dhīmatā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; agrees with tena (appositional)

• kṛpaṇāḥ: piteous
• kṛpaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies te

• karuṇāḥ: compassionate
• karuṇāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural; qualifies vācaḥ (vācāḥ)

• vācaḥ: words
• vācaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vadanti: speak
• vadanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• sma: (past marker)
• sma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: Past-marker particle (स्म-निपात)

• manasvinaḥ: high-minded people
• manasvinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; apposition to te

Context

Plunged in grief, they saw the city deprived of all joy, looking like a sky without the Moon and an ocean without water.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Ayodhyā (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as steadfast loyalty to a righteous leader; the citizens’ grief signals how deeply Rāma is associated with moral order and protection.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāma’s departure for exile, the people of Ayodhyā search desperately but cannot find even a trace of him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s perceived virtue as a dhārmic protector is emphasized indirectly—his absence creates disorientation and sorrow among the people.