Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 23

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 चरत्येकचरो वशी।भावयन्नात्मनाऽत्मानं यत्र सायंगृहो मुनिः।।।।

Transliteration

nārājake janapade caraty ekacaro vaśī | bhāvayann ātmanātmānaṃ yatra sāyaṃgṛho muniḥ ||

Translation

రాజులేని జనపదంలో స్వయంనిగ్రహమున్న ముని కూడా—సాధారణంగా ఒంటరిగా సంచరిస్తూ ఆత్మధ్యానంలో లీనమై ఉండేవాడు—నిర్భయంగా తిరగలేడు; సాయంకాలానికి విశ్రాంతి గృహమూ దొరకదు॥

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• arājake: in a kingless (realm)
• arājake: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-rājaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (locative: 'in a kingless [state]')

• janapade: in the country
• janapade: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janapada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• carati: wanders
• carati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• ekacaraḥ: one who moves alone
• ekacaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka + cara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः ('एकः च सः चरः')

• vaśī: self-controlled
• vaśī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• bhāvayan: contemplating / causing to be in mind
• bhāvayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū + ṇic → bhāvay (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी-प्रयोगः

• ātmanā: by oneself / with the mind
• ātmanā: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करणम् (instrumental: 'by/with oneself, by the mind')

• ātmānam: the self
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: 'where')

• sāyaṃgṛhaḥ: an evening shelter/inn
• sāyaṃgṛhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāyam + gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/अव्ययीभावसदृश-समासः ('सायं-गृहः' = evening-shelter/inn)

• muniḥ: sage
• muniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Context

In a country where there is no king, an ascetic who (normally) moves alone, self-controlled and contemplating on the higher self no longer wanders or rests in the inn.

Characters & Entities

• muni (sage)

FAQs

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

A ruler’s dharma is to secure the realm so that even renunciants can pursue spiritual practice without fear; governance protects both worldly and spiritual life.

What is the narrative situation?

The council continues enumerating signs of disorder, stressing that insecurity affects not only traders and soldiers but also peaceful ascetics.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate guardianship—creating conditions where the vulnerable and the peaceful can live and move unharmed.