Shloka 2.67.3

अयोध्यायां शोक-रात्रिः तथा अराजक-राष्ट्रस्य नीतिविचारः (The Night of Lamentation in Ayodhya and the Political Ethics of a Kingless Realm)

Devanagari script

मार्कण्डेयोऽथ मौद्गल्यो वामदेवश्च काश्यपः।कात्यायनो गौतमश्च जाबालिश्च महायशाः।।।।एते द्विजा स्सहामात्यैः पृथग्वा च मुदीरयन्।वसिष्ठमेवाभिमुखाः श्रेष्ठं राजपुरोहितम्।।।।

Transliteration

mārkaṇḍeyo 'tha maudgalyo vāmadevaś ca kāśyapaḥ | kātyāyano gautamaś ca jābāliś ca mahāyaśāḥ ||

ete dvijāḥ sahāmātyaiḥ pṛthag vā ca mudīrayan | vasiṣṭham evābhimukhāḥ śreṣṭhaṃ rājapurohitam ||

Translation

Then Mārkaṇḍeya, Maudgalya, Vāmadeva, Kāśyapa, Kātyāyana, Gautama, and the renowned Jābāli—these brahmins, together with the ministers—approached Vasiṣṭha, the foremost royal priest, and, facing him, each voiced his own view.

Context

Markandeya, Maudgalya, Kasyapa, Katyayana, Gautama, Jabali of great renown accompanied by ministers and brahmins approached Vasistha, the chief priest of the king and expressed different opinions (on the investiture).

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Maudgalya
• Vāmadeva
• Kāśyapa
• Kātyāyana
• Gautama
• Jābāli
• Vasiṣṭha
• amātya (ministers)

FAQs

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

Dharma is approached through deliberation: qualified elders and ministers consult the chief preceptor, showing that righteous action in statecraft should arise from counsel, not impulse.

What is the narrative situation?

A council of eminent brahmins and ministers gathers and approaches Vasiṣṭha to present views connected with governance and succession in Ayodhya.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Wisdom through consultation—respect for learned authority (guru/purohita) and collective reasoning in moments of political uncertainty.