Valmiki Ramayana 2.67.21: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 21

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 शरान्सन्ततमस्यताम् ।

श्रूयते तलनिर्घोष इष्वस्त्राणामुपासने ॥२१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.67.21

Transliteration

nārājake janapade śarān santatam asyatām |

śrūyate talanirghoṣa iṣvastrāṇām upāsane ||21||

Translation

W krainie bez króla niezłamana dyscyplina łucznictwa i broni słabnie; nie słychać już szczęku cięciwy uderzającej o ochraniacz dłoni, gdy strzały wypuszczane są bez przerwy.

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Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• arājake: in a kingless (state)
• arājake: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-rājaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

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

• śarān: arrows
• śarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• santatam: continuously
• santatam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: santata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभाव (adverbial accusative; indeclinable usage)

• asyatām: (let them) shoot/throw
• asyatām: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु; अस् = क्षेपणे)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; विधिलिङ्-प्रायः प्रयोगः—"let them shoot" (आज्ञार्थ)

• śrūyate: is heard
• śrūyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive: is heard)

• talanirghoṣaḥ: the sound of the tala (arm-guard)
• talanirghoṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; of passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tala-nirghoṣa (प्रातिपदिक; तल + निर्घोष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तलस्य निर्घोषः)

• iṣvastrāṇām: of arrows and weapons
• iṣvastrāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: iṣu-astra (प्रातिपदिक; इषु + अस्त्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (इषवश्च अस्त्राणि च)

• upāsane: in practice/training
• upāsane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upāsana (प्रातिपदिक; उप + √ās (धातु) से ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Context

In a country without a king, the sounds of the ceaseless discharge of arrows and practice of weapons, the clappings of the cord on the skin shield of shooters throwing the arrows are no longer heard.

Characters & Entities

• janapada (realm)
• tala (protective hand-guard)

FAQs

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

Rajadharma: a rightful king sustains public discipline and preparedness; without governance, even constructive training for protection and duty falls silent.

What is the narrative situation?

After the crisis in Ayodhya, elders and counselors argue that the realm must not remain leaderless; they list concrete signs of decline in an unruled country.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsibility in leadership: the virtue of maintaining order and readiness so society can fulfill its duties (including defense) lawfully.