Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 47: The Brāhmaṇas Return to Ayodhyā in Distress
Text 2.47.7
इहैव निधनं यामो महाप्रस्थानमेव वा।
रामेण रहितानां हि किमर्थं जीवितं हि नः॥
ihaiva nidhanaṁ yāmo mahā-prasthānam eva vā
rāmeṇa rahitānāṁ hi kim-arthaṁ jīvitaṁ hi naḥ
iha = here; eva = itself; nidhanam = by fasting until death; yāmaḥ = we will leave [this world]; mahā-prasthānam eva = by a journey to the north with a vow to die; vā = or; rāmeṇa = of Rāma; rahitānām = when we are bereft; hi = indeed; kim-artham = what is the use of; jīvitam hi = a life; naḥ = for us.
We will leave [this world] here itself by fasting until death or by a journey to the north with a vow to die. Indeed, what is the use of a life for us when we are bereft of Rāma?