Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 25

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 हृष्टैः परमवाजिभिः।नरास्संयान्ति सहसा रथैश्च परिमण्डिताः।।।।

Transliteration

nārājake janapade hṛṣṭaiḥ paramavājibhiḥ | narāḥ saṃyānti sahasā rathaiś ca parimaṇḍitāḥ ||

Translation

王なき国土では、最上の馬に引かれ飾り立てた戦車に乗る朗らかな人々でさえ、勢いよく出立しない。世の信頼も祝祭の活気も薄れてゆく。

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• arājake: in a kingless (realm)
• arājake: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-rājaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• janapade: in the country
• janapade: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janapada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• hṛṣṭaiḥ: with spirited/joyful (ones)
• hṛṣṭaiḥ: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; भूतकृत् (क्त) from √hṛṣ (हृष्) 'to be delighted'

• paramavājibhiḥ: with excellent horses
• paramavājibhiḥ: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama + vājin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः ('परमाः वाजिनः')

• narāḥ: men
• narāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• saṃyānti: go forth / march
• saṃyānti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + yā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; नकारेण निषेधः

• sahasā: suddenly
• sahasā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: 'suddenly/at once')

• rathaiḥ: with chariots
• rathaiḥ: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• parimaṇḍitāḥ: adorned / well-dressed
• parimaṇḍitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari + maṇḍ (धातु) → parimaṇḍita (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतकृत् (क्त)

Context

In a country without a king, well-dressed men are no longer enthusiastic to drive on excellent horses and on chariots.

Characters & Entities

• ratha (chariot)

FAQs

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

Righteous rule sustains social confidence and orderly public life; when authority is absent, fear suppresses normal movement and prosperity.

What is the narrative situation?

The council continues to show how anarchy affects daily life, not merely warfare—people stop moving freely even for ordinary or celebratory purposes.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Stability-giving leadership—the capacity to remove fear so society can flourish.