Valmiki Ramayana 2.67.26 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 26

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 नराश्शास्त्रविशारदाः।संवदन्तोऽवतिष्ठन्ते वनेषूपवनेषु च।।।।

Transliteration

nārājake janapade narāḥ śāstraviśāradāḥ | saṃvadanto 'vatiṣṭhante vaneṣūpavaneṣu ca ||

Translation

In einem Land ohne König bleiben selbst die in den Śāstras Kundigen nicht ruhig in Wäldern oder Lusthainen, im Gespräch und in der Debatte verweilend; auch die Gelehrsamkeit verliert ihre sichere Zuflucht.

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

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

• śāstraviśāradāḥ: learned in scriptures
• śāstraviśāradāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāstra + viśārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ('शास्त्रेषु विशारदाः' = well-versed in scriptures)

• saṃvadantaḥ: conversing
• saṃvadantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + vad (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (understood with verb though not explicit in text tradition; some recensions read 'नावतिष्ठन्ते')

• avatiṣṭhante: stay / remain
• avatiṣṭhante: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava + sthā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• vaneṣu: in forests
• vaneṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• upavaneṣu: in groves/gardens
• upavaneṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

Context

In a country with no king people proficient in scriptures do not withdraw to the forests and (recreational) gardens for debates (on scriptures).

Characters & Entities

• śāstra
• vana (forest)

FAQs

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

Governance is dharmically required to protect knowledge-culture; without safety, study, dialogue, and ethical reasoning cannot thrive.

What is the narrative situation?

The counselors argue that anarchy corrodes not only wealth and defense but also scholarship and civil discourse.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Patronage and protection of learning—ensuring conditions for truthful inquiry (satya-vicāra) and dharmic debate.