Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 114, Shloka 17
अयोध्याप्रवेशः
Bharata Enters Ayodhya and Perceives the City’s Desolation
सहसा युद्धशौण्डेन हयारोहेण वाहिताम्। निहतां प्रतिसैन्येन वडवामिव पातिताम्।।2.114.17।।
sahasā yuddhaśauṇḍena hayāroheṇa vāhitām | nihatāṃ pratisainyena vaḍavām iva pātitām || 2.114.17 ||
அது போரில் தேர்ந்த குதிரைவீரன் திடீரென வேகமாக ஓட்டிய ஒரு குதிரைமாதைப் போல; ஆனால் எதிர்சேனை அதை கொன்று தரையில் வீழ்த்தியது।
FAQs
The verse underscores how collective life suffers when righteous leadership is removed; dharma protects a realm from ‘being felled’ by adversity, both moral and political.
A continuing set of metaphors portrays Ayodhya as struck down and powerless after Rama’s exile.
Rama’s protective kingship (rājadharma) is implied by its absence—his removal makes the city appear defeated.