Valmiki Ramayana 2.40.19 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 19

प्रयाणवर्णनम्

Departure from Ayodhya; Civic Lament and the Chariot’s Urgency

Devanagari script

तत्समाकुलसम्भ्रान्तं मत्तसङ्कुपितद्विपम्।हयशिञ्जितनिर्घोषं पुरमासीन्महास्वनम्।।।।

Transliteration

tat samākula-sambhrāntaṃ matta-saṅkupita-dvipam | haya-śiñjita-nirghoṣaṃ puram āsīn mahā-svanam ||

Translation

那座城顿时纷乱惊惶，发情的象群躁动不安；马嘶与铃声轰然交作，汇成震天巨响。

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of "puram"
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• samākula-sambhrāntam: confused and agitated
• samākula-sambhrāntam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of "puram"
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samākula (प्रातिपदिक) + sambhrānta (कृदन्त; √bhram (भ्रम्) + सम्, क्त)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); dvandva of two adjectives; sambhrānta = past passive participle (क्त)

• matta-saṅkupita-dvipam: with elephants intoxicated and provoked
• matta-saṅkupita-dvipam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of "puram"
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matta (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkupita (कृदन्त; √kup (कुप्) + सम्, क्त) + dvipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: "matta" and "saṅkupita" qualifying "dvipa"; whole compound qualifies "puram"

• haya-śiñjita-nirghoṣam: resounding with horses' tinkling/neighing sounds
• haya-śiñjita-nirghoṣam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of "puram"
• Type: Adjective
• Root: haya (प्रातिपदिक) + śiñjita (कृदन्त; √śiñj (शिञ्ज्), क्त) + nirghoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: "haya"-related "śiñjita" as qualifier of "nirghoṣa"; whole compound qualifies "puram"

• puram: the city
• puram: Karta (कर्ता) of "āsīt"
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• āsīt: was
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस्)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• mahā-svanam: loud-roaring
• mahā-svanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of "puram"
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + svana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: "great" + "sound"

Context

Taking leave of Dasaratha, the righteous descendant of the Raghus (Rama) along with Sita paid obeisance to his mother Kausalya who was afflicted with deep grief.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā
• elephants
• horses

FAQs

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

When dharma is disrupted in the kingdom (the rightful heir exiled), even the civic order mirrors that disturbance—an implicit warning that adharma has societal consequences.

What is the narrative situation?

As the departure unfolds, Ayodhyā is filled with commotion—animals and people alike stirred by the moment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a single virtue, but the collective attachment to Rāma’s righteousness—shown by the city’s agitation at his leaving.