Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 6

अयोध्यायां शोक-रात्रिः तथा अराजक-राष्ट्रस्य नीतिविचारः

The Night of Lamentation in Ayodhya and the Political Ethics of a Kingless Realm

Devanagari script

स्वर्गतश्च महाराजो रामश्चारण्यमाश्रितः।लक्ष्मणश्चापि तेजस्वी रामेणैव गतस्सह।।।।

Transliteration

svargataś ca mahārājo rāmaś cāraṇyam āśritaḥ | lakṣmaṇaś cāpi tejasvī rāmeṇaiva gataḥ saha ||

Translation

The great king has gone to heaven; Rāma has taken refuge in the forest; and radiant Lakṣmaṇa too has gone along with Rāma.

Word by Word

• ubhau: both
• ubhau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana (Dual/द्विवचन); viśeṣaṇa of bharataśatrughnau

• bharata-śatrughnaū: Bharata and Shatrughna
• bharata-śatrughnaū: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata + śatrughna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; itaretara-dvandva: bharataḥ ca śatrughnaḥ ca

• kekayeṣu: in the Kekayas
• kekayeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kekaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Bahuvacana; deśa-vācaka

• parantapau: destroyers of enemies
• parantapau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paraṃ-tapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; tatpuruṣa: parān tapati (one who torments enemies)

• pure: in the city
• pure: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• rājagṛhe: at Rajagriha
• rājagṛhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājagṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; place-name

• ramye: beautiful
• ramye: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of rājagṛhe/pure

• mātāmaha-niveśane: in the maternal grandfather's residence
• mātāmaha-niveśane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātāmaha + niveśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: mātāmahasya niveśanam (maternal grandfather's residence)

Context

The great king has attained heaven, Rama has taken refuge in the forest and brilliant Lakshmana has also gone with Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Araṇya (forest)

FAQs

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

It highlights fidelity to duty and truth: Rāma accepts exile, and Lakṣmaṇa upholds fraternal dharma by accompanying him.

What is the narrative situation?

The ministers summarize the kingdom’s crisis: the king is dead and the rightful prince is in the forest with Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s loyalty and steadfastness, and Rāma’s commitment to satya in keeping the exile obligation.