Valmiki Ramayana 2.67.18 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 18

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 वाहनै शशीघ्रगामिभिः।नरा निर्यान्त्यरण्यानि नारीभिस्सह कामिनः।।।।

Transliteration

nārājake janapade vāhanaiḥ śaśīghragāmibhiḥ | narā niryānty araṇyāni nārībhis saha kāminaḥ ||

Translation

ৰাজা নথকা জনপদত কামাসক্ত পুৰুষসকলে নাৰীসকলৰ সৈতে অতি-দ্ৰুতগামী বাহনত উঠি বিনোদনৰ বাবে অৰণ্যলৈ ওলাই নাযায়।

Word by Word

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

• arājake: in a kingless (state)
• arājake: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-rājaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

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

• vāhanaiḥ: by vehicles/chariots
• vāhanaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• śīghragāmibhiḥ: swift-moving
• śīghragāmibhiḥ: Karana (करण; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śīghra-gāmin (प्रातिपदिक; शीघ्र + गामिन्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शीघ्रं गच्छन्ति ये)

• narāḥ: men
• narāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• niryānti: go out
• niryānti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√yā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• araṇyāni: to the woods
• araṇyāni: Karma (कर्म; destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: araṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• nārībhiḥ: with women
• nārībhiḥ: Sahakari (सहकारी/with)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• saha: together with
• saha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-शब्दः, सहार्थक-अव्यय (preposition/adverb: with)

• kāminaḥ: pleasure-seeking men
• kāminaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāmin (प्रातिपदिक; √kam (धातु) से इन्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Context

In a country without a king, wealthy people who live on farming and raising cattle cannot sleep safely in their homes with doors wide open.

Characters & Entities

• araṇya (woods/forest)

FAQs

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

Dharma in governance ensures freedom of movement and leisure without fear; the absence of lawful authority restricts even nonessential pleasures due to insecurity.

What is the narrative situation?

The speakers continue portraying how daily life contracts in a kingless realm, where travel and recreation become unsafe.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Order-maintenance (śāsana) and protection—key virtues expected of a king to keep roads and outskirts safe.