Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 114, Shloka 17
अयोध्याप्रवेशः
Bharata Enters Ayodhya and Perceives the City’s Desolation
सहसा युद्धशौण्डेन हयारोहेण वाहिताम्। निहतां प्रतिसैन्येन वडवामिव पातिताम्।।2.114.17।।
sahasā yuddhaśauṇḍena hayāroheṇa vāhitām | nihatāṃ pratisainyena vaḍavām iva pātitām || 2.114.17 ||
তা যেন এক ঘোটকী—যাকে যুদ্ধনিপুণ অশ্বারোহী হঠাৎ তাড়িয়ে নিয়ে গিয়েছিল, কিন্তু প্রতিপক্ষ সেনা তাকে বধ করে মাটিতে ফেলে দিয়েছে।
FAQs
The verse underscores how collective life suffers when righteous leadership is removed; dharma protects a realm from ‘being felled’ by adversity, both moral and political.
A continuing set of metaphors portrays Ayodhya as struck down and powerless after Rama’s exile.
Rama’s protective kingship (rājadharma) is implied by its absence—his removal makes the city appear defeated.