Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 16

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकपञ्चाशः सर्गः — Guha’s Vigil and Lakṣmaṇa’s Lament

Night on the riverbank

Devanagari script

अनुरक्तजनाकीर्णा सुखालोकप्रियावहा।राजव्यसनसंसृष्टा सा पुरी विनशिष्यति।।।।

Transliteration

anuraktajanākīrṇā sukhā lokapriyāvahā | rājavyasanasaṃsṛṣṭā sā purī vinaśiṣyati ||

Translation

นครนั้น—อันแน่นด้วยผู้ภักดี นำความรื่นรมย์ และเป็นที่รักของชาวเมือง—ก็จักพินาศลง เมื่อถูกครอบงำด้วยวิบัติอันเกิดจากเคราะห์ร้ายของพระราชา

Word by Word

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (how)

• पुत्रम्: son
• पुत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महात्मानम्: great-souled
• महात्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘पुत्रम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• ज्येष्ठम्: eldest
• ज्येष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘पुत्रम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• प्रियम्: beloved
• प्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘पुत्रम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अपश्यतः: of (the king) who does not see
• अपश्यतः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + पश्य् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (not seeing), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; ‘राज्ञः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• शरीरम्: body
• शरीरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धारयिष्यन्ति: will sustain/hold
• धारयिष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• प्राणाः: life-breaths
• प्राणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled (king)
• महात्मनः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘राज्ञः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Context

How can the noble king survive unable to see his high-souled, beloved, eldest son?

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

The welfare of a kingdom is inseparable from righteous, stable kingship; when the ruler collapses in dharma and strength, society suffers.

What is the narrative situation?

Amid the exile-and-succession crisis, the speaker foresees Ayodhyā’s decline due to the king’s impending downfall.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Clear-sighted responsibility—seeing political and moral consequences beyond personal sorrow.