Valmiki Ramayana 2.67.33 — 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

جس طرح بینائی ہمیشہ جسم کی خدمت میں لگی رہتی ہے، اسی طرح نریندر (بادشاہ) ہی راشٹر میں سچ اور دھرم کا قائم رکھنے والا سرچشمہ ہے۔

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.