Valmiki Ramayana 2.53.29 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 29

पञ्चाशत्तमः सर्गः (Sarga 53)

Rāma’s Lament, Vigil for Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa’s Consolation

Devanagari script

ध्रुवमद्य पुरी राजन्नयोध्यायुधिनां वर।निष्प्रभा त्वयि निष्क्रान्ते गतचन्द्रेव शर्वरी।।।।

Transliteration

dhruvam adya purī rājan ayodhyāyudhināṃ vara | niṣprabhā tvayi niṣkrānte gatacandreva śarvarī ||

Translation

ข้าแต่พระราชา ผู้ประเสริฐยิ่งในหมู่นักรบผู้ทรงอาวุธ แน่นอนว่าวันนี้กรุงอโยธยา เมื่อพระองค์เสด็จจากไปแล้ว ย่อมหม่นไร้รัศมี ดุจราตรีที่ปราศจากจันทร์

Word by Word

• dhruvam: certainly
• dhruvam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverbial accusative), certainty marker ‘certainly’

• adya: today/now
• adya: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, temporal adverb ‘today/now’

• purī: city
• purī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• ayodhyā: of Ayodhya
• ayodhyā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayodhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (as first member in compound)

• āyudhinām: of the armed (men)
• āyudhinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyudhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; ‘of weapon-bearers’

• vara: O best
• vara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; used as epithet to rājan

• niṣprabhā: without splendor
• niṣprabhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣprabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; predicate adjective of purī

• tvayi: when you
• tvayi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative absolute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• niṣkrānte: having departed
• niṣkrānte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nis-√kram (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP) used in locative absolute; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘when (you) have departed’

• gatacandrā: moonless
• gatacandrā: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata-candra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (one whose moon is gone)

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय

• śarvarī: night
• śarvarī: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; upamāna

Context

O Rama, foremost of warriors, it is certain that since your departure, the city of Ayodhya must be lustreless like night without the Moon.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Rama
• Ayodhya

FAQs

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

A righteous ruler is the ‘light’ of the kingdom; dharma in kingship is not mere power but the sustaining presence of virtue for society.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa reassures and elevates Rāma by describing Ayodhyā’s loss of brilliance after his exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Recognition of rightful kingship and steadfast devotion—Lakṣmaṇa’s unwavering affirmation of Rāma’s worth.