Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 27

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 माल्यमोदकदक्षिणाः।देवताभ्यर्चनार्थाय कल्प्यन्ते नियतैर्जनैः।।।।

Transliteration

nārājake janapade mālyamodakadakṣiṇāḥ | devatābhyarcanārthāya kalpyante niyataire janaiḥ ||

Translation

রাজাহীন জনপদে নিয়মনিষ্ঠ লোকেরাও দেবতার পূজার জন্য মালা, মোদক ও দক্ষিণা যথাবিধি প্রস্তুত করতে পারে না।

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• arājake: in a kingless (realm)
• arājake: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-rājaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

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

• mālyamodakadakṣiṇāḥ: garlands, sweets, and offerings
• mālyamodakadakṣiṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mālya + modaka + dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (garlands, sweets, and gifts/fees)

• devatābhiḥ: for the deities
• devatābhiḥ: Sampradana (सम्प्रदानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; (here: 'for the deities'—instrumental used in worship context)

• arcanārthāya: for the purpose of worship
• arcanārthāya: Prayojana (प्रयोजनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arcana + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ('अर्चनस्य अर्थः' = purpose of worship)

• kalpyante: are arranged/prepared
• kalpyante: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kḷp (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; नकारेण निषेधः

• niyataiḥ: by disciplined (people)
• niyataiḥ: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niyata (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; भूतकृत् (क्त) from √yam with ni- (नियमित/disciplin ed)

• janaiḥ: by people
• janaiḥ: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Context

In a country where there is no king, people who are disciplined in spiritual practices do not offer garlands of flowers, sweetmeats and alms while worshipping gods.

Characters & Entities

• devatāḥ (deities)
• mālya (garlands)
• dakṣiṇā (ritual gifts)

FAQs

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

A stable kingdom supports dharmic observances; when fear and disorder prevail, even sincere people fail to sustain worship and charitable giving.

What is the narrative situation?

The council links political breakdown to spiritual and communal breakdown, showing how public dharma depends on public order.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence and generosity—virtues that require safety and regularity to be practiced consistently.