Valmiki Ramayana 2.67.9: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 9

अयोध्यायां शोक-रात्रिः तथा अराजक-राष्ट्रस्य नीतिविचारः

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

Devanagari script

नाराजके जनपदे विद्युन्माली महास्वनः।अभिवर्षति पर्जन्यो महीं दिव्येन वारिणा।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.67.9

Transliteration

nārājake janapade vidyunmālī mahāsvanaḥ | abhivarṣati parjanyo mahīṃ divyena vāriṇā ||

Translation

Dans un pays sans roi, Parjanya, le tonnant ceint d’éclairs, ne verse pas sur la terre la pluie céleste.

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Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; niṣedha

• arājake: in a kingless (state)
• arājake: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-rājaka (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• janapade: in the country
• janapade: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janapada (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• bīja-muṣṭiḥ: a handful of seeds
• bīja-muṣṭiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bīja + muṣṭi (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: bījānāṃ muṣṭiḥ (handful of seeds)

• prakīryate: is sown/scattered
• prakīryate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√kṝ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana; Ātmanepada; karmavācya (passive): 'is scattered/sown'

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; niṣedha

• arājake: in a kingless (state)
• arājake: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-rājaka (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• pituḥ: of the father
• pituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• bhāryā: wife
• bhāryā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; vikalpa (or)

• vartate: remains/exists
• vartate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana; Ātmanepada

• vaśe: under control
• vaśe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaśa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; 'under control' (locative of state)

Context

In a country without a king, thunderous clouds garlanded by lightning would no longer water the earth with celestial showers.

Characters & Entities

• Parjanya (rain-god)
• janapada (realm)
• mahī (earth)

FAQs

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

It teaches the interdependence of rājadharma and societal prosperity: just rule sustains order that is metaphorically mirrored in nature’s fertility.

What is the narrative situation?

The ministers argue that kinglessness brings calamity, illustrating it through the image of rain failing in a lawless realm.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Governance as stewardship: leaders must be installed to preserve stability, livelihood, and well-being.