Shloka 2.67.38

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

Devanagari script

स न स्समीक्ष्य द्विजवर्य वृत्तं नृपं विना राज्यमरण्यभूतम्।कुमारमिक्ष्वाकुसुतं वदान्यं त्वमेव राजानमिहाभिषिञ्च।।।।

Transliteration

sa naḥ samīkṣya dvijavarya vṛttaṃ nṛpaṃ vinā rājyam araṇyabhūtam |

kumāram ikṣvākusutaṃ vadānyaṃ tvam eva rājānam ihābhiṣiñca || 2.67.38 ||

Translation

Therefore, O best of brāhmaṇas, having considered what has occurred—and seeing that a kingdom without a king becomes like a forest—do you yourself consecrate here, as our king, the generous prince born of the Ikṣvāku line.

Context

O Vasistha, the best of brahmins, considering all that has happened and knowing that a kingdom without a king is like a forest, you may consecrate a generous son from the Ikshvaku race as our king.ইত্যার্ষে শ্রীমদ্রামাযণে বাল্মীকীয আদিকাব্যে অযোধ্যাকাণ্ডে সপ্তষষ্টিতমস্সর্গঃ৷৷Thus ends the sixtyseventh sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Ikṣvāku dynasty
• kumāra (the prince—Bharata is contextually most likely in this moment of succession debate)
• rājya (kingdom)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires continuity of legitimate rule; installing a rightful king is portrayed as a moral necessity to prevent the realm from descending into disorder.

What is the narrative situation?

After Daśaratha’s passing, the assembly urges Vasiṣṭha to perform the royal consecration so the leaderless kingdom does not become lawless like a forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Generosity and fitness for kingship in the chosen Ikṣvāku prince, alongside Vasiṣṭha’s duty as priest to uphold lawful succession.