Valmiki Ramayana 2.67.8 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 8

अयोध्यायां शोक-रात्रिः तथा अराजक-राष्ट्रस्य नीतिविचारः

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

Devanagari script

इक्ष्वाकूणामिहाद्यैव कश्चिद्राजा विधीयताम्।अराजकं हि नो राष्ट्रं विनाशं समवाप्नुयात्।।।।

Transliteration

ikṣvākūṇām ihādyaiva kaścid rājā vidhīyatām | arājakaṃ hi no rāṣṭraṃ vināśaṃ samavāpnuyāt ||

Translation

فلْيُنصَّب اليومَ هنا ملكٌ من سلالة إكشڤاكو؛ فإن المملكة إذا خلت من ملك حقًّا آلت إلى الهلاك.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; niṣedha (negation)

• arājake: in a kingless (state)
• arājake: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-rājaka (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of janapade

• janapade: in the country
• janapade: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janapada (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• vidyunmālī: garlanded with lightning
• vidyunmālī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidyut + mālin (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: vidyut-mālā asya asti (garlanded with lightning)

• mahāsvanaḥ: thunderous
• mahāsvanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + svana (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: mahān svanaḥ (great-sounding)

• abhivarṣati: showers upon
• abhivarṣati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√vṛṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/लट्), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• parjanyaḥ: the rain-god (cloud)
• parjanyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parjanya (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• mahīm: the earth
• mahīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• divyena: celestial
• divyena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napुंसakliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of vāriṇā (instrumental)

• vāriṇā: with water/rain
• vāriṇā: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāri (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napुंसakliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

Context

Therefore, let someone from the race of Ikshvakus be appointed king right now. since without a king, the country will be destroyed.

Characters & Entities

• Ikṣvāku dynasty
• rāṣṭra (kingdom)

FAQs

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

Rājadharma: legitimate kingship is necessary for protecting society; delaying lawful succession endangers the common good.

What is the narrative situation?

With Daśaratha dead and Rāma exiled, the ministers urge immediate appointment of a king to prevent anarchy.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Public-minded prudence: prioritizing the welfare of the realm over factional or personal interests.