Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 42: Daśaratha Goes to Kausalyā’s Residence in Distress
Text 2.42.23
शून्यचत्वरवेश्मान्तां संवृतापणदेवताम्।
क्लान्तदुर्बलदुःखार्तां नात्याकीर्णमहापथाम्॥
śūnya-catvara-veśmāntāṁ saṁvṛtāpaṇa-devatām
klānta-durbala-duḥkhārtāṁ nātyākīrṇa-mahā-pathām
śūnya-catvara-veśma-antām = the crossroads and the courtyards of the houses in the city were empty; saṁvṛta-āpaṇa-devatām = the shops and the temples in the city were closed; klānta-durbala-duḥkha-ārtām = the city had tired and weak people anguishing in distress; na = not; atyākīrṇa-mahā-pathām = the grand road in the city was very crowded.
The crossroads and the courtyards of the houses in the city were empty. The shops and the temples in the city were closed. The city had tired and weak people anguishing in distress. The grand road in the city was not very crowded.
The city had people who were tired due to inconceivable anxiety and people who were devoid of their essential strength out of separation from Śrī Rāma. This is an indication that all those who were capable of moving followed Rāma. nātyākīrṇa-mahā-pathām indicates that here and there a few people were seen on the grand road. It is implied that the other roads and streets were absolutely empty.