Valmiki Ramayana 2.47.2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 47, Shloka 2

अयोध्यायाः पौरविलापः

Lament of the Citizens of Ayodhya on Rama’s Absence

Setting: Ayodhya

Devanagari script

शोकजाश्रुपरिद्यूना वीक्षमाणास्ततस्ततः ।

आलोकमपि रामस्य न पश्यन्ति स्म दुःखिताः ॥२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.47.2

Transliteration

śokajāśruparidyūnā vīkṣamāṇās tataḥ tataḥ |

ālokam api rāmasya na paśyanti sma duḥkhitāḥ ||2||

Translation

Bị nỗi sầu làm hao mòn, lệ tuôn đẫm mặt, họ nhìn ngó khắp nơi; nhưng trong khổ đau vẫn chẳng thấy dù chỉ một dấu vết của Rāma.

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Word by Word

• te: they
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Plural
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• viṣādārta-vadanāḥ: with faces pained by sorrow
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣāda-ārta-vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain; Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies te
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• rahitāḥ: bereft (of)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √rah (धातु) > rahita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: PPP-like adjectival (क्त); Masculine, Nominative, Plural; 'deprived/separated'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• tena: by/with him
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• dhīmatā: the wise one
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; agrees with tena (appositional)
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• kṛpaṇāḥ: piteous
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies te
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• karuṇāḥ: compassionate
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural; qualifies vācaḥ (vācāḥ)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• vācaḥ: words
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• vadanti: speak
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• sma: (past marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: Past-marker particle (स्म-निपात)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• manasvinaḥ: high-minded people
• Type: Noun
• Root: manasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; apposition to te
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

Sandhi Notes

• viṣādārta-vadanāḥ is a compound
• karuṇā vācaḥ = karuṇāḥ+vācaḥ (agreement in fem. acc. pl.)

Context

Anguished and drenched with tears of grief they looked hither and thither but could not find even a trace of Rama.

The teaching

Collective grief reveals dependence on righteous leadership; yet the search that finds no ‘trace’ underscores impermanence of worldly proximity.

Ethical theme

Sāmājika-dharma (civic life) / vairāgya undertone

Devotion and practice

Practice of smaraṇa in separation; transforming grief into steady remembrance.

Deity praised

Rama (as object of darśana)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Tear-soaked, searching, desolate

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Separation
• Grief
• Loyalty

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Ayodhyā (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as steadfast loyalty to a righteous leader; the citizens’ grief signals how deeply Rāma is associated with moral order and protection.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rāma’s departure for exile, the people of Ayodhyā search desperately but cannot find even a trace of him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s perceived virtue as a dhārmic protector is emphasized indirectly—his absence creates disorientation and sorrow among the people.