Valmiki Ramayana 2.67.5: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 5
अयोध्यायां शोक-रात्रिः तथा अराजक-राष्ट्रस्य नीतिविचारः
The Night of Lamentation in Ayodhya and the Political Ethics of a Kingless Realm
अतीता शर्वरी दुःखं या नो वर्षशतोपमा।अस्मिन्पञ्चत्वमापन्ने पुत्रशोकेन पार्थिवे।।।।
atītā śarvarī duḥkhaṃ yā no varṣaśatopamā | asmin pañcatvam āpanne putraśokena pārthive ||
পুত্রশোকে ব্যাকুল এই পার্থিব রাজা পঞ্চত্বে লীন হয়েছেন; তাই যে রাত্রি অতিবাহিত হয়েছে, তা আমাদের কাছে শতবর্ষসম দুঃখময় হয়ে গেছে।
While king Dasaratha died on account of grief over (separation from) his son and rejoined the five elements, the sorrowful night seemed like a hundred years for us. (commented the assembly of ministers).
FAQs
It underscores the dharmic reality of impermanence: even a king is subject to death, and governance must respond responsibly rather than collapse into private grief.
After Rāma’s exile, King Daśaratha dies from sorrow; the ministers reflect on the dreadful night and the crisis of succession.
Administrative sobriety and responsibility in crisis—placing the kingdom’s welfare above emotional paralysis.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Valmiki Ramayana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.