Valmiki Ramayana 2.47.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 47, Shloka 16

अयोध्यायाः पौरविलापः

Lament of the Citizens of Ayodhya on Rama’s Absence

Devanagari script

आलोक्य नगरीं तां च क्षयव्याकुलमानसाः।आवर्तयन्त तेऽश्रूणि नयनैः शोकपीडितैः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.47.16

Transliteration

ālोकya nagarīṃ tāṃ ca kṣaya-vyākula-mānasāḥ | āvartayanta te ’śrūṇi nayanaiḥ śoka-pīḍitaiḥ || 2.47.16 ||

Translation

ఆ నగరాన్ని చూచి, నష్టంతో కలత చెందిన మనస్సుతో వారు, శోకంతో బాధపడిన కన్నులతో కన్నీళ్లను కార్చారు।

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Word by Word

• आलोक्य: having seen
• आलोक्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable participle)

• नगरीम्: the city
• नगरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध—coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• क्षय-व्याकुल-मानसाः: whose minds were agitated by ruin/decay
• क्षय-व्याकुल-मानसाः: Karta (कर्ता—qualifier of ते)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक) + व्याकुल (प्रातिपदिक) + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (क्षयेन व्याकुलं मानसं येषाम्)

• आवर्तयन्त: they shed/caused to flow
• आवर्तयन्त: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अश्रूणि: tears
• अश्रूणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• नयनैः: with (their) eyes
• नयनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शोक-पीडितैः: afflicted with sorrow
• शोक-पीडितैः: Karana (करण—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक (प्रातिपदिक) + पीडित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शोकेन पीडितैः) विशेषण नयनैः

Context

On seeing the city the minds of the people were agitated due to the loss (of their prince). Tears streamed down their eyes, oppressed with sorrow.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhya
• Ayodhya citizens

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the moral cost of separation from righteousness: grief arises when society feels deprived of a just presence; it teaches the value of dhārmic leadership for communal well-being.

What is the narrative situation?

Upon reaching Ayodhya and seeing it again, the citizens’ sorrow intensifies and they weep.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Emotional truthfulness (satya in feeling): their tears are an honest response to loss, not performative.