Valmiki Ramayana 2.48.29-31: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 48, Shlokas 29-31

अयोध्यायाः शोकवर्णनम्

Ayodhya’s Lament and Civic Desolation

Addressed to Citizens of AyodhyaSetting: Forest pathPlaces named: forest, wildernessJourney to Chitrakuta

Devanagari script

पूर्णचन्द्रानन श्श्यामो गूढजत्रुररिन्दमः ।

आजानुबाहुः पद्माक्षो रामो लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः ॥२९॥

पूर्वाभिभाषी मधुर स्सत्यवादी महाबलः ।

सौम्यस्सर्वस्य लोकस्य चन्द्रवत्प्रियदर्शनः ॥३०॥

नूनं पुरुषशार्दूलो मत्तमातङ्गविक्रमः ।

शोभयिष्यत्यरण्यानि विचरन् स महारथः ॥३१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.48.29-31

Transliteration

pūrṇacandrānana śśyāmo gūḍhajatrurarindamaḥ |

ājānubāhuḥ padmākṣo rāmo lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ ||29||

pūrvābhibhāṣī madhura ssatyavādī mahābalaḥ |

saumyassarvasya lokasya candravatpriyadarśanaḥ ||30||

nūnaṃ puruṣaśārdūlo mattamātaṅgavikramaḥ |

śobhayiṣyatyaraṇyāni vicaran sa mahārathaḥ ||31||

Translation

లక్ష్మణుని అగ్రజుడైన రాముడు పూర్ణచంద్రుని వంటి ముఖము కలవాడు, శ్యామవర్ణము గలవాడు, గూఢజత్రుడు, శత్రువులను జయించేవాడు. మోకాళ్ళ వరకు వంగే బాహువులు గలవాడు, పద్మము వంటి నేత్రములు గలవాడు. ముందుగా మాట్లాడేవాడు, మధుర స్వభావము గలవాడు, సత్యవాది, మహాబలవంతుడు. సర్వలోకమునకు సౌమ్యుడు, చంద్రుని వంటి ప్రియదర్శనుడు. ఖచ్చితంగా ఈ పురుషశార్దూలుడు, మత్తమాతంగ విక్రమము గల మహారథి, అరణ్యములలో సంచరిస్తూ వాటిని శోభింపజేస్తాడు.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• pūrṇacandrānanaḥ: full-moon-faced
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa + candra + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (pūrṇacandra iva ānanaṃ yasya) — मुखविशेषण
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• śyāmaḥ: dark-hued
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• gūḍhajatruḥ: with well-formed clavicles
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gūḍha + jatru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (gūḍhaṃ jatru yasya)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• arindamaḥ: subduer of enemies
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ari + dama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (arin damayati iti)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• ājānubāhuḥ: with arms reaching the knees
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā + jānu + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुषार्थे—'ā-jānu' (up to the knees) + bāhu
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• padmākṣaḥ: lotus-eyed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padma + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (padma iva akṣī yasya)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ: elder brother of Lakshmana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lakṣmaṇa + pūrvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (lakṣmaṇasya pūrvajaḥ)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• gūḍhajatrur arindamaḥ → gūḍhajatruḥ + arindamaḥ
• padmākṣo rāmo → padmākṣaḥ + rāmaḥ

Context

Rama, elder brother to Lakshmana is a tiger among men, a subduer of enemies, powerful like an intoxicated elephant, and a great charioteer. Blue in complexion, he has a face like the full Moon. He has lotus-like eyes, knee-long arms and fleshy clavicles. Endowed with a sweet nature, he always speaks the truth and the first to speak to others. When he roams the forest, charming like the Moon and pleasing to the whole world, he will surely make it look graceful.

Devotion and practice

meditation on Rama's divine form for bhakti practitioners

Deity praised

Rama

Form of praise

Stuti (a hymn of praise)

Mantra

पूर्णचन्द्रानन श्श्यामो गूढजत्रुररिन्दमः

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shringara (love), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Admiring, glorious, poetic

Themes

• Dharma
• Bhakti
• Virtue
• Kingly Qualities
• Exile
• Lamentation

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Ayodhya
• Forest (Aranya)

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates the profound sense of loss and injustice felt by the citizens when a righteous and virtuous prince like Rama is exiled. It highlights the Dharma of a king's duty to his subjects and the reciprocal devotion subjects have toward a righteous ruler. The detailed description of Rama's virtues serves to emphasize the magnitude of the loss to the kingdom.

What is the narrative situation?

The women of Ayodhya are lamenting Rama's exile. They describe his noble qualities, physical beauty, and virtuous nature, expressing their grief that such an exemplary prince has been banished to the forest. This occurs after Dasharatha's decision to exile Rama, as part of the collective mourning sweeping through the city.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse emphasizes Rama's complete embodiment of virtues: his physical perfection (lotus eyes, moon-like face), his moral excellence (truthfulness, sweet nature), his strength (tiger among men, valor of an elephant), and his gentle demeanor toward all beings. He is portrayed as the ideal prince whose very presence beautifies the forest.