Valmiki Ramayana 2.67.31: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 31

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 स्वकं भवति कस्यचित्।मत्स्या इव नरा नित्यं भक्षयन्ति परस्परम्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.67.31

Transliteration

nārājake janapade svakaṃ bhavati kasyacit |

matsyā iva narā nityaṃ bhakṣayanti parasparam || 2.67.31 ||

Translation

In einem Land ohne König bleibt nichts wahrhaft jemandes Eigen; die Menschen, wie Fische, verschlingen einander unablässig.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle/निषेधाव्यय)

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

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

• svakam: one's own property
• svakam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (subject of bhavati)

• bhavati: exists/becomes
• bhavati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• kasyacit: of anyone
• kasyacit: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kasya + cit (प्रातिपदिक + अव्यय)
• Form: किम्-प्रातिपदिक (interrogative/indefinite), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; 'चित्' अनिश्चितार्थक-निपातः (indefinite particle)

• matsyāḥ: fish
• matsyāḥ: Upamana (उपमानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: matsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

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

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriya-Visheshana (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative/अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः)

• bhakṣayanti: devour
• bhakṣayanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhakṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• parasparam: one another
• parasparam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paraspara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: परस्परम् (reciprocal adverb/अन्योन्यवाचक-अव्यय), कर्मवत् प्रयोगः

Context

In a country where there is no king, no one can own anything and, like fish, people devour one another ceaselessly.

Characters & Entities

• janapada (realm/country)
• rājā (king, as institution)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires a legitimate authority to protect rights and restrain violence; without rulership, society collapses into predation where the strong exploit the weak.

What is the narrative situation?

The assembly warns Vasiṣṭha that the kingdom cannot remain leaderless after Daśaratha’s death.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective governance—restraint, justice, and safeguarding of property and life.