Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 36

अयोध्यायां शोक-रात्रिः तथा अराजक-राष्ट्रस्य नीतिविचारः

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

Devanagari script

अहो तम इवेदं स्यान्नप्रज्ञायेत किञ्चन।राजा चे न्न भवे ल्लोके विभज साध्वसाधुनी।।।।

Transliteration

aho tama ivedaṃ syān na prajñāyeta kiñcana |

rājā cen na bhave loke vibhajan sādhv asādhunī || 2.67.36 ||

Translation

Alas—this world would be like darkness, and nothing could be discerned, if there were no king to distinguish between good and evil deeds.

Word by Word

• अहो: alas/oh
• अहो: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: Vismaya-nipāta (विस्मय-निपात)

• तमः: darkness
• तमः: Karta/Predicate (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like/as if
• इव: Upamā marker (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-nipāta (उपमा-निपात)

• इदम्: this (world/state)
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• स्यात्: would be
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ-lakāra (लिङ्/Optative), Prathama-puruṣa, Singular, Parasmaipada

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• प्रज्ञायेत: would be understood/known
• प्रज्ञायेत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+√jñā (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ-lakāra (लिङ्/Optative), Prathama-puruṣa, Singular, Ātmanepada; passive sense 'would be known'

• किञ्चन: anything (even a little)
• किञ्चन: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiṃcana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma-like, Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; adverbial object 'anything at all'

• राजा: a king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Condition marker (शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cet (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional particle (शर्त-निपात)

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• भवेत्: would exist/be
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ-lakāra (लिङ्/Optative), Prathama-puruṣa, Singular, Parasmaipada

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular

• विभजन्: distinguishing
• विभजन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi+√bhaj (धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (वर्तमानकृदन्त), Śatṛ-pratyaya (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with 'rājā'

• साधु-असाधुनी: the good and the bad (deeds/ways)
• साधु-असाधुनी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक) + asādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Dual (द्विवचन); object of 'vibhajan'

Context

If the king did not show the distinction between the good and evil actions, this world would have been enveloped by darkness. Nothing could have been seen. How great (is the king)?

Characters & Entities

• rājā (king)

FAQs

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

Dharma depends on clear moral discernment supported by just authority; the king’s role is to make ethical distinctions effective in public life.

What is the narrative situation?

The assembly argues that without a ruler, moral and legal clarity collapses, so consecration must proceed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Judiciousness—ability to distinguish and uphold right over wrong.