Valmiki Ramayana 2.48.28: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 28

अयोध्यायाः शोकवर्णनम्

Ayodhya’s Lament and Civic Desolation

Devanagari script

मिथ्याप्रव्राजितो राम स्ससीत स्सहलक्ष्मणः।भरते सन्निसृष्टास्स्म स्सौनिके पशवो यथा।।2.48.28।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.48.28

Transliteration

mithyāpravrājito rāmaḥ sasītaḥ sahalakṣmaṇaḥ |

bharate sannisṛṣṭāḥ sma saunike paśavo yathā || 2.48.28 ||

Translation

Rāma—cùng với Sītā và Lakṣmaṇa—đã bị lừa dối mà đày đi; còn chúng ta thì bị giao phó cho Bharata, như đàn gia súc bị trao vào tay kẻ đồ tể.

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Word by Word

• mithyā: falsely, deceitfully
• mithyā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mithyā (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• pravrājitaḥ: exiled
• pravrājitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√vraj (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; प्रव्राजित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sa: with
• sa: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्)
• Form: सह-अर्थक अव्यय (with) — समासपूर्वपदत्वेन

• sītā: Sita
• sītā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'sa-sītā' इत्यत्र सहचर-निर्देश

• sa: with
• sa: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्)
• Form: सह-अर्थक अव्यय (with)

• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'sa-lakṣmaṇaḥ' इत्यत्र सहचर-निर्देश

• bharate: to/for Bharata
• bharate: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; 'bharate' = 'for Bharata/under Bharata' (contextual locative)

• sannisṛṣṭāḥ: delivered, handed over
• sannisṛṣṭāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया-विशेषण/प्रधानेन विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ni-√sṛj (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सन्निसृष्ट)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP) — 'handed over/delivered'

• sma: indeed/just (particle)
• sma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-निपात (particle indicating recollection/emphasis; often with past sense)

• saunike: to a butcher
• saunike: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saunika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; 'at/with a butcher'

• paśavaḥ: animals, beasts
• paśavaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• yathā: as, like
• yathā: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय (comparative particle)

Context

Rama, elder brother to Lakshmana is a tiger among men, a subduer of enemies, powerful like an intoxicated elephant, and a great charioteer. Blue in complexion, he has a face like the full Moon. He has lotus-like eyes, knee-long arms and fleshy clavicles. Endowed with a sweet nature, he always speaks the truth and the first to speak to others. When he roams the forest, charming like the Moon and pleasing to the whole world, he will surely make it look graceful.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Bharata

FAQs

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

It condemns deceit as a violation of dharma: a righteous order cannot be established through falsehood, especially when it harms the innocent and destabilizes the moral center of the kingdom.

What is the narrative situation?

The people of Ayodhyā react to Rāma’s exile, feeling abandoned and unsafe, fearing they are now at the mercy of political power rather than protected by righteousness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s moral centrality is implied: his removal is felt as the removal of protection rooted in dharma, showing how a virtuous leader becomes a refuge for society.