Valmiki Ramayana 2.46.3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 3

तमसातीरवासः · Night on the Bank of the Tamasa and the Stratagem to Elude the Citizens

Spoken by Rama to LakshmanaSetting: Araṇya on the route of exile from AyodhyāPlaces named: AraṇyaEarly forest-entry/transition from city to wilderness

Devanagari script

पश्य शून्यान्यरण्यानि रुदन्तीव समन्ततः ।

यथानिलयमायद्भिर्निलीनानि मृगद्विजैः ॥३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.46.3

Transliteration

paśya śūnyāny araṇyāni rudantīva samantataḥ |

yathā-nilayam āyadbhir nilīnāni mṛga-dvijaiḥ ||3||

Translation

จงดูเถิด—พงไพรเหล่านี้ว่างเปล่ารอบด้าน ประหนึ่งกำลังร่ำไห้; เพราะเหล่ามฤคาและวิหค เมื่อกลับสู่ที่พำนักของตนแล้ว ก็พากันหลบเร้นไป

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• paśya: see
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ lakāra (Imperative), Madhyama puruṣa (2nd person), Ekavacana (Singular), Parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• śūnyāni: deserted/empty
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūnya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Bahuvacana (Plural); agrees with araṇyāni
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• araṇyāni: forests
• Type: Noun
• Root: araṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Bahuvacana (Plural)
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object) of paśya

• rudantī: crying
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rud (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ (present active participle) feminine nominative singular; used with iva to qualify araṇyāni by poetic personification (as if 'crying')
• Role: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (participial qualifier)

• iva: as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; upamā-nipāta
• Role: Upamā-bodhaka (उपमा)

• samantataḥ: all around
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samantataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of place 'on all sides'
• Role: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)

• yathā: as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative/conjunctive adverb 'as/according to'
• Role: Upamā/Prakāra-bodhaka

• nilayam: (to their) abode
• Type: Noun
• Root: nilaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); used adverbially with yathā: 'to their abode'
• Role: Gati-karma (goal) with āyadbhiḥ

• āyadbhiḥ: by those returning
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√yā (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ (present active participle) instrumental plural; 'by those going/returning'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) in instrumental (agent of nilīnāni)

• nilīnāni: hidden/withdrawn
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni√lī (धातु)
• Form: Kta (past passive participle) neuter accusative plural; agrees with araṇyāni; 'hidden/withdrawn'
• Role: Predicate participle describing araṇyāni (state due to mṛgadvijaiḥ)

• mṛga-dvijaiḥ: by animals and birds
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural); itaretara-dvandva: mṛgāḥ ca dvijāḥ ca (animals and birds)
• Role: Karaṇa/Karta (instrumental agent) for nilīnāni
• Compound: Dvandva

Sandhi Notes

• śūnyānyaraṇyāni = śūnyāni + araṇyāni
• rudantīva = rudantī + iva
• yathānilayam = yathā + nilayam
• āyadbhiḥ nilīnāni = āyadbhiḥ + nilīnāni

Context

Look at the deserted forest. The wild animals and birds have returned to their hideouts. They fill the air with their cries.

The teaching

Even nature seems to mirror the cost of righteous exile; dharma may be steady, yet its path can feel desolating.

Ethical theme

Dharma (steadfastness amid loss)

For your practice

Cultivates karuṇā and vairāgya: observe how attachment to place and comfort falls away, turning the mind inward.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Bhayanaka (fear)

Mood

Desolate, hushed, lamenting

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Nature imagery
• Vairagya

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• forest (araṇya)
• birds (dvija)

FAQs

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

Dharma is linked to awareness and restraint: entering the wilderness requires attentiveness to place and life, moving without needless disturbance.

What is the narrative situation?

During the journey away from Ayodhya, the travelers observe an eerily deserted forest where creatures have retreated to their shelters.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Mindfulness and sensitivity—perceiving the mood of nature and responding with sober awareness.