Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 35

अयोध्यायां शोक-रात्रिः तथा अराजक-राष्ट्रस्य नीतिविचारः

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

Devanagari script

यमो वैश्रवण श्शक्रः वरुणश्च महाबलः।विशेष्यन्ते नरेन्द्रेण वृत्तेन महता ततः।।।।

Transliteration

yamo vaiśravaṇaḥ śakraḥ varuṇaś ca mahābalaḥ |

viśeṣyante narendreṇa vṛttena mahatā tataḥ || 2.67.35 ||

Translation

Therefore, by his great conduct, the king surpasses even mighty Yama, Vaiśravaṇa, Śakra (Indra), and Varuṇa.

Word by Word

• यमः: Yama
• यमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वैश्रवणः: Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera)
• वैश्रवणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शक्रः: Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वरुणः: Varuṇa
• वरुणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• महाबलः: mighty
• महाबलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; adjective to the preceding deities (collectively/each)

• विशेष्यन्ते: are surpassed/excelled
• विशेष्यन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi+√śiṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Prathama-puruṣa, Plural, Ātmanepada; passive-like sense 'are excelled'

• नरेन्द्रेण: by the king
• नरेन्द्रेण: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular

• वृत्तेन: by (his) conduct
• वृत्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtta (√vṛt, कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular; 'by conduct'

• महता: great/excellent
• महता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular; adjective to 'vṛttena'

• ततः: therefore/for that reason
• ततः: Hetu/Discourse (हेतु/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyayam (अव्यय), causal/consequential adverb

Context

Hence, the king with his excellent conduct surpasses mighty Yama, Vaisravana, Indra and Varuna.

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera)
• Śakra (Indra)
• Varuṇa
• narendra (king)

FAQs

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

Moral excellence (vṛtta) is presented as higher than mere power: a king who governs righteously can be considered superior even to divine rulers in function and merit.

What is the narrative situation?

The speakers elevate the ideal of kingship to stress why the throne cannot remain vacant.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Great conduct—self-discipline, justice, and ethical leadership.