निशा नक्षत्रहीनेव स्त्रीव भर्तृविवर्जिता। पुरी नाराजतायोध्या हीना राज्ञा महात्मना॥ बाष्पपर्याकुलजना हाहाभूतकुलाङ्गना। शून्यचत्वरवेश्मान्ता न बभ्राज यथापुरम्॥
niśā nakṣatrahīneva strīva bhartṛvivarjitā| purī nārājatāyodhyā hīnā rājñā mahātmanā|| bāṣpaparyākulajanā hāhābhūtakulāṅganā| śūnyacatvaraveśmāntā na babhrāja yathāpuram||
English Meaning
Like a night without stars, like a fair one forsaken by her husband, the city of Ayodhyā without the magnanimous monarch did not appear delightful as it had done before, with the populace filled with tears, the ladies uttering exclamations of distress, and the terraces and courts deserted.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)