Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 13

अयोध्यायां शोक-रात्रिः तथा अराजक-राष्ट्रस्य नीतिविचारः

The Night of Lamentation in Ayodhya and the Political Ethics of a Kingless Realm

Devanagari script

नाराजके जनपदे यज्ञशीला द्विजातयः।सत्राण्यन्वासते दान्ता ब्राह्मणा स्संशितव्रताः।।।।

Transliteration

nārājake janapade yajñaśīlā dvijātayaḥ | satrāṇy anvāsate dāntā brāhmaṇāḥ saṃśitavratāḥ ||

Translation

In a country without a king, even self-controlled brahmins devoted to sacrifice—firm in their vows—do not continue the great sacrificial sessions (satra).

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• arājake: in a kingless (state)
• arājake: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-rājaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; नञ्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (kingless)

• janapade: in the country
• janapade: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janapada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• yajñaśīlāḥ: habitually performing sacrifices
• yajñaśīlāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yajña-śīla (प्रातिपदिक; यज्ञ + शील)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यज्ञस्य शीलं येषाम्)

• dvijātayaḥ: twice-born (Brahmins)
• dvijātayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvijāti (प्रातिपदिक; द्वि + जाति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (द्विः जाताः = twice-born)

• satrāṇi: sattra-sacrifices
• satrāṇi: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• anvāsate: practice/perform
• anvāsate: Kriya (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√ās (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; अर्थः—अनुष्ठानं कुर्वन्ति/सेवन्ते

• dāntāḥ: self-controlled
• dāntāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject; apposition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dānta (प्रातिपदिक; √dam (धातु) से क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• brāhmaṇāḥ: Brahmins
• brāhmaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• saṃśitavratāḥ: of strict vows
• saṃśitavratāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject; apposition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃśita-vrata (प्रातिपदिक; संशित + व्रत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (संशितं व्रतं येषाम्)

Context

In a country without a king wealthy brahmins, who have performed great sacrifices, do not offer abundance of gifts to the officiating priests.

Characters & Entities

• brāhmaṇa (brahmins)
• yajña (sacrifice)

FAQs

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

Dharma is interdependent: ritual and spiritual life require a secure, lawfully governed society. Without a king, even disciplined religious specialists cannot sustain public rites.

What is the narrative situation?

The speakers highlight the breakdown of sacrificial culture in a leaderless state, strengthening the argument that the kingdom must not remain without a ruler.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śama and vrata-niṣṭhā (self-control and steadfast vows), paired with the recognition that personal virtue needs societal protection to flourish.