Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 66, Shloka 15
अयोध्यायां शोकविलापः
Lamentation in Ayodhya after Daśaratha’s death
न तु सङ्कलनं राज्ञो विना पुत्रेण मन्त्रिणः।सर्वज्ञाः कर्तुमीषुस्ते ततो रक्षन्ति भूमिपम्।।।।
na tu saṅkalanaṃ rājño vinā putreṇa mantriṇaḥ |
sarvajñāḥ kartum īṣuḥ te tato rakṣanti bhūmipam ||
然而诸臣深谙礼法，不愿在无子在场之时为王举行丧葬祭仪；因此他们守护着君主的遗身。
The counsellors who were acquainted with all such matters (relating to the king's funeral) were unwilling to perform the obsequies in the absence of any of the king's sons. Meanwhile, they kept watch over the deadbody of the king.
FAQs
The verse highlights pitṛ-dharma and ritual propriety: the son’s role in performing final rites is treated as a dharmic obligation, so the ministers delay the obsequies until a rightful performer is present.
Daśaratha has died, and Rāma is in exile; the ministers preserve the body and postpone the rites awaiting the arrival of a son (notably Bharata).
Respect for tradition and lawful procedure (vidhi), coupled with guardianship and responsibility.