Valmiki Ramayana 2.67.22 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 22

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 वणिजो दूरगामिनः।गच्छन्ति क्षेममध्वानं बहुपण्यसमाचिताः।।।।

Transliteration

nārājake janapade vaṇijo dūragāminaḥ | gacchanti kṣemam adhvānaṃ bahupaṇyasamācitāḥ ||

Translation

नाराजके जनपदे वणिजो दूरगामिनः बहुपण्यसमाचिताः; क्षेममध्वानं गन्तुं न शक्नुवन्ति॥

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

• vaṇijaḥ: merchants
• vaṇijaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaṇij (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• dūragāminaḥ: long-distance travelers
• dūragāminaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dūra-gāmin (प्रातिपदिक; दूर + गामिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दूरं गच्छन्ति ये)

• gacchanti: go
• gacchanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• kṣemam: safely
• kṣemam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṣema (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया-एकवचन (adverbial accusative: safely)

• adhvānam: the road/journey
• adhvānam: Karma (कर्म; path as object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• bahupaṇyasamācitāḥ: laden with many goods
• bahupaṇyasamācitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu-paṇya-samācita (प्रातिपदिक; बहु + पण्य + समाचित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (बहुभिः पण्यैः समाचिताः); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त

Context

In a country without a king merchants travelling long distances with several kinds of saleable goods cannot go safely on their way.

FAQs

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

A king’s dharma includes protecting lawful livelihoods; when rule collapses, security vanishes and honest commerce cannot function.

What is the narrative situation?

The council describes practical harms of an unruled state, highlighting insecurity on highways and disruption of trade.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protectiveness and justice in governance—ensuring safe passage and preventing predation on travelers.