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 ||
Like a mare suddenly brought down—though driven hard by a war-skilled horseman—slain by the opposing army and cast to the ground.
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.