Ramayana — 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
नाराजके जनपदे वणिजो दूरगामिनः।गच्छन्ति क्षेममध्वानं बहुपण्यसमाचिताः।।।।
nārājake janapade vaṇijo dūragāminaḥ | gacchanti kṣemam adhvānaṃ bahupaṇyasamācitāḥ ||
రాజులేని జనపదంలో దూరప్రయాణం చేసే, అనేక రకాల సరుకులతో నిండిన వ్యాపారులు కూడా క్షేమమైన మార్గంలో సాగలేరు॥
In a country without a king merchants travelling long distances with several kinds of saleable goods cannot go safely on their way.
FAQs
A king’s dharma includes protecting lawful livelihoods; when rule collapses, security vanishes and honest commerce cannot function.
The council describes practical harms of an unruled state, highlighting insecurity on highways and disruption of trade.
Protectiveness and justice in governance—ensuring safe passage and preventing predation on travelers.