Valmiki Ramayana 2.48.26: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 26

अयोध्यायाः शोकवर्णनम्

Ayodhya’s Lament and Civic Desolation

Devanagari script

न हि प्रव्रजिते रामे जीविष्यति महीपतिः।मृते दशरथे व्यक्तं विलापस्तदनन्तरम्।।2.48.26।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.48.26

Transliteration

na hi pravrajite rāme jīviṣyati mahīpatiḥ |

mṛte daśarathe vyaktaṁ vilāpas tad-anantaram || 2.48.26 ||

Translation

เมื่อพระรามถูกส่งไปเนรเทศ พระมหากษัตริย์ย่อมไม่อาจทรงดำรงพระชนม์ได้นาน; ครั้นทศรถสิ้นพระชนม์แล้ว สิ่งที่ตามมาโดยประจักษ์ย่อมเป็นแต่การคร่ำครวญร่ำไห้

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Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधानार्थ (indeed)

• pravrajite: when exiled
• pravrajite: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√vraj (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; प्रव्रजित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP) — 'when (he is) exiled'

• rāme: in/when Rama (is)
• rāme: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc), एकवचन

• jīviṣyati: will live, will survive
• jīviṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jīv (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• mahīpatiḥ: the king (lord of the earth)
• mahīpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahīpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (mahīyāḥ patiḥ)

• mṛte: when dead
• mṛte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √mṛ/मृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP) — 'when (he is) dead'

• daśarathe: in/when Dasaratha (is)
• daśarathe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc), एकवचन

• vyaktam: clearly, evidently
• vyaktam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vyakta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √vyaj/व्यज्)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन नपुंसक-एकवचन-प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) = 'clearly/evidently'

• vilāpaḥ: lamentation
• vilāpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vilāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tad: that
• tad: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'that' (in compound with anantaram)

• anantaram: immediately after
• anantaram: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative) = 'immediately after'

Context

Now that Rama has been banished, the king will not live (long). After his death there will be evidently only lamentations.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• King (mahīpati)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the human cost of adharma in state decisions: unjust exile wounds not only the victim but also the king and the entire polity.

What is the narrative situation?

The people anticipate Daśaratha’s death from heartbreak after Rāma’s banishment, and foresee public mourning thereafter.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s filial centrality and Daśaratha’s deep attachment—highlighting how ethical rupture in the royal household spreads suffering outward.