Valmiki Ramayana 2.67.2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 2
अयोध्यायां शोक-रात्रिः तथा अराजक-राष्ट्रस्य नीतिविचारः
The Night of Lamentation in Ayodhya and the Political Ethics of a Kingless Realm
Setting: अयोध्या (अन्तःपुर-राजसभा-परिसरः)Places named: सभा
व्यतीतायां तु शर्वर्यामादित्यस्योदये ततः ।
समेत्य राजकर्तारः सभामीयुर्द्विजातयः ॥२॥
vyatītāyāṃ tu śarvaryām ādityasyodaye tataḥ |
sametya rājakartāraḥ sabhām īyur dvijātayaḥ ||2||
Pasada la noche y al alzarse el Sol, los dos veces nacidos—brahmanes que ofician los ritos de consagración real—se reunieron y se dirigieron a la sala del consejo.
Sandhi Notes
- शर्वर्यामादित्यस्योदये = शर्वर्याम् + आदित्यस्य + उदये
- सभामीयुः = सभाम् + ईयुः।
When the night finally ended and after the sunrise next day, the brahmins who perform royal investiture having been called and reached the assembly hall.
The teaching
राज्य-व्यवस्थायां विधिवत् परिषद्-समागमः धर्म-पालनस्य आधारः।
- Ethical theme
- राजधर्म/सामाजिक-व्यवस्था
For your practice
प्रातःकाले शुद्ध-चित्तेन कर्तव्य-आरम्भः; अनुशासन-प्रियता।
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace), with Adbhuta (wonder)
- Mood
- प्रातः-शान्ति, विधिवत्, परिषद्-गाम्भीर्य
Themes
- Dharma
- Rajadharma
- Itihasa
- Governance
- Social order
प्रकाश-उदयः = अविद्या-निवृत्तिः/व्यवस्था-प्रबोधनम्; समाज-धर्मस्य प्रकाशकः सूर्यवत्
"तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय" (बृहदारण्यक-प्रार्थना) इति प्रकाश-प्रतीकस्य अनुगूञ्जनम्
Prātaḥkāla
आदित्यस्य उदयः
वाल्मीकि-रामायण 2.67.13-16 (राजाभाव-दोष-प्रसङ्गः); महाभारत शान्तिपर्व (राजधर्म-प्रकरणेषु: अराजक-भय-निन्दा)
ऋग्वेद/यजुर्वेद-राजसूय/अभिषेक-परम्परा (सामान्य-संकेतः)
अयोध्याकाण्डे राज्याभिषेक-प्रसङ्गः (पूर्वापर-सन्दर्भः)
अनुष्टुप्
Narrative
मध्यम-स्थायी, सम-गति
FAQs
The verse underscores rajadharma: legitimate kingship is established through sanctioned rites and collective counsel, indicating that political authority should arise from dharmic procedure rather than force.
At daybreak, brahmins responsible for coronation/investiture rites gather and proceed to the assembly hall, preparing for deliberation and action regarding the kingdom’s leadership.
Institutional responsibility and discipline—those entrusted with sacred civic duties act promptly and in an orderly manner to uphold social and political stability.
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