Valmiki Ramayana 2.67.19: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 19

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 धनवन्तस्सुरक्षिताः।शेरते विवृतद्वाराः कृषिगोरक्षजीविनः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.67.19

Transliteration

nārājake janapade dhanavantaḥ surakṣitāḥ | śerate vivṛtadvārāḥ kṛṣigorakṣajīvinaḥ ||

Translation

அரசன் இல்லாத நாட்டில் வேளாண்மை மற்றும் மாட்டுப் பராமரிப்பால் வாழும் செல்வந்தர்களும் பாதுகாப்பின்றி இருப்பர்; கதவுகளைத் திறந்துவைத்து நிம்மதியாக உறங்க இயலார்.

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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

• dhanavantaḥ: wealthy
• dhanavantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhanavant (प्रातिपदिक; धन + वन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तद्धितान्त (वन्त) विशेषण

• surakṣitāḥ: well-protected
• surakṣitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-rakṣita (प्रातिपदिक; सु + रक्षित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त

• śerate: sleep/lie down
• śerate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śī (धातु; शे/शीङ् शये)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• vivṛtadvārāḥ: with doors left open
• vivṛtadvārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vivṛta-dvāra (प्रातिपदिक; विवृत + द्वार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विवृतं द्वारं येषाम्)

• kṛṣigorakṣajīvinaḥ: those living by farming and cattle-protection
• kṛṣigorakṣajīvinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣi-gorakṣa-jīvin (प्रातिपदिक; कृषिः + गोरक्षा + जीविन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समाहारः (कृष्या गोरक्षया च जीवितं येषाम्)

Context

When the night finally ended and after the sunrise next day, the brahmins who perform royal investiture having been called and reached the assembly hall.

FAQs

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

The verse states a practical measure of dharmic rule: when governance is righteous, even the prosperous feel safe; without it, fear prevails and trust disappears.

What is the narrative situation?

To show the cost of anarchy, the speakers point to the insecurity of households and livelihoods in agriculture and cattle-rearing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rakṣaṇa (protection of subjects and property), a central royal virtue ensuring economic and domestic peace.