Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 33

अयोध्यायां शोक-रात्रिः तथा अराजक-राष्ट्रस्य नीतिविचारः

The Night of Lamentation in Ayodhya and the Political Ethics of a Kingless Realm

Devanagari script

यथा दृष्टि श्शरीरस्य नित्यमेव प्रवर्तते।तथा नरेन्द्रो राष्ट्रस्य प्रभवस्सत्यधर्मयोः।।।।

Transliteration

yathā dṛṣṭiḥ śarīrasya nityam eva pravartate |

tathā narendro rāṣṭrasya prabhavaḥ satyadharmayoḥ || 2.67.33 ||

Translation

శరీరమునకు దృష్టి నిత్యము పనిచేయునట్లు, అలాగే రాష్ట్రమునకు సత్యధర్మముల ప్రభవము నరేంద్రుడే।

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha/Upamā marker (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyayam (अव्यय), comparative adverb

• दृष्टिः: sight/eye
• दृष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• शरीरस्य: of the body
• शरीरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया), 'always'

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (निपात), emphasis/restriction

• प्रवर्तते: functions/operates
• प्रवर्तते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• तथा: so/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Correlation marker (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyayam (अव्यय), correlative adverb

• नरेन्द्रः: the king (lord of men)
• नरेन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• राष्ट्रस्य: of the kingdom/state
• राष्ट्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāṣṭra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• प्रभवः: source/origin
• प्रभवः: Karta/Predicate (कर्ता/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); predicate nominative

• सत्य-धर्मयोः: of truth and righteousness
• सत्य-धर्मयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Dual (द्विवचन); 'of truth and righteousness'

Context

The king is the source for protecting the truth and morality of a country like the eyewhich perpetually watches the welfare of the body.

Characters & Entities

• narendra (king)
• rāṣṭra (kingdom)
• satya (truth)
• dharma (righteousness)

FAQs

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

Truth and dharma are not merely private virtues; they require vigilant public protection, and the king is portrayed as the instrument through which that protection continuously operates.

What is the narrative situation?

The assembly highlights why a ruler must be installed quickly: the king is essential for maintaining satya and dharma in the state.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vigilance—steady, watchful care for the realm’s moral health.