Sloka & Translation

[Ministers and brahmins speak about the miserable state of a kingdom without king -- urge Vasistha to name the heir apparent for Ayodhya.]

आक्रन्दितनिरानन्दा सास्रकण्ठजनाकुला।

अयोध्यायामवतता सा व्यतीयाय शर्वरी।।2.67.1।।


अयोध्यायाम् in Ayodhya, आक्रन्दितनिरानन्दा rendered cheerless by the lamentations, सास्रकण्ठजनाकुला filled with sobbing people, अवतताः stretched interminably, सा शर्वरी that night, व्यतीयाय passed away.

The night stretched interminably in Ayodhya, which was filled with sobbing people rendered cheerless by their lamentations.
व्यतीतायां तु शर्वर्यामादित्यस्योदये ततः।

समेत्य राजकर्तारः सभामीयुर्द्विजातयः।।2.67.2।।


ततः then, शर्वर्याम् when the night, व्यतीतायां तु passed, आदित्यस्य उदये at sunrise, राजकर्तारः those who perform royal investiture, द्विजातयः brahmins, समेत्य having been called, सभाम्
assembly hall, ईयुः reached.

When the night finally ended and after the sunrise next day, the brahmins who perform royal investiture having been called and reached the assembly hall.
मार्कण्डेयोऽथ मौद्गल्यो वामदेवश्च काश्यपः।

कात्यायनो गौतमश्च जाबालिश्च महायशाः।।2.67.3।।

एते द्विजा स्सहामात्यैः पृथग्वा च मुदीरयन्।

वसिष्ठमेवाभिमुखाः श्रेष्ठं राजपुरोहितम्।।2.67.4।।


मार्कण्डेयः Markandeya, अथ and, मौद्गल्यः Maudgalya, अथ also, काश्यपः Kasyapa, कात्यायनः Katyayana, गौतमश्च Gautama also, महायशाः of great renown, जाबालिश्च Jabali too, एते these, द्विजाः brahmins, अमात्यैः सह with ministers, श्रेष्ठम् the chief, राजपुरोहितम् king's priest, वसिष्ठमेव Vasistha himself, अभिमुखाः approached, पृथक् different, वाचम् opinions उदीरयन् expressed.

Markandeya, Maudgalya, Kasyapa, Katyayana, Gautama, Jabali of great renown accompanied by ministers and brahmins approached Vasistha, the chief priest of the king and expressed different opinions (on the investiture).
अतीता शर्वरी दुःखं या नो वर्षशतोपमा।

अस्मिन्पञ्चत्वमापन्ने पुत्रशोकेन पार्थिवे।।2.67.5।।


अस्मिन् पार्थिवे this king, पुत्रशोकेन out of grief over (seperation from) his son, पञ्चत्वम् dissolution into the five elements (death), आपन्ने having attained, या that night, नः for us, वर्षशतोपमा like a hundred years, शर्वरी such night, दुःखम् sorrowful, अतीता passed.

While king Dasaratha died on account of grief over (separation from) his son and rejoined the five elements, the sorrowful night seemed like a hundred years for us. (commented the assembly of ministers).
स्वर्गतश्च महाराजो रामश्चारण्यमाश्रितः।

लक्ष्मणश्चापि तेजस्वी रामेणैव गतस्सह।।2.67.6।।


महाराजः the great king, स्वर्गतश्च had attained heaven, रामश्च Rama also, अरण्यम् in the forest, आश्रितः taken refuge, तेजस्वी lustrous, लक्ष्मणश्च Lakshmana, रामेणैव सह with Rama, गतः went.

The great king has attained heaven, Rama has taken refuge in the forest and brilliant Lakshmana has also gone with Rama.
उभौ भरतशत्रुघ्नौ केकयेषु परन्तपौ।

पुरे राजगृहे रम्ये मातामहनिवेशने।।2.67.7।।


परन्तपौ destroyers of enemies, भरतशत्रुघ्नौ Bharata and Satrughna, उभौ both, केकयेषु in the Kekaya kingdom, राजगृहे at Rajagriha, पुरे city, रम्ये beautiful, मातामहनिवेशने are in maternal grandfather's palace.

Bharata and Satrughna, destroyers of enemies, are at the beautiful city of Rajagriha in the Kekaya kingdom, the palace of their maternal grandfather's palace.
इक्ष्वाकूणामिहाद्यैव कश्चिद्राजा विधीयताम्।

अराजकं हि नो राष्ट्रं विनाशं समवाप्नुयात्।।2.67.8।।


इक्ष्वाकूणाम् in the race of Ikshvakus, कश्चित् anyone, इह here, अद्यैव right now, राजा as king, विधीयताम् should be made, अराजकम् without a king, नः our, राष्ट्रम् country, विनाशम् destruction, (सम् अव) आप्नुयात् will attain.

Therefore, let someone from the race of Ikshvakus be appointed king right now. since without a king, the country will be destroyed.
नाराजके जनपदे विद्युन्माली महास्वनः।

अभिवर्षति पर्जन्यो महीं दिव्येन वारिणा।।2.67.9।।


अराजके where there is no king, जनपदे in a country, विद्युन्माली garlanded with a row of lightning, महास्वनः thunderous, पर्जन्यः raingod, महीम् the earth, दिव्येन with celestial, वारिणा with rain, नाभिवर्षति does not shower.

In a country without a king, thunderous clouds garlanded by lightning would no longer water the earth with celestial showers.
नाराजके जनपदे बीजमुष्टिः प्रकीर्यते।

नाराजके पितुः पुत्रो भार्या वा वर्तते वशे।।2.67.10।।


अराजके where there is no king, जनपदे in a country, बीजमुष्टिः handfuls of seeds, न प्रकीर्यते will not be sown (sprout), अराजके where there no king, पुत्र: son, भार्या वा or wife, पितुः father's, वशे control, न वर्तते do not remain.

Where there is no king, even a handful of seeds will not be sown (will not sprout). In a kingless kingdom, a son or a wife will not obey the father (head of the family).
नाराजके धनं चास्ति नास्ति भार्या प्यराजके।

इद मत्याहितं चान्यत्कुतस्सत्य मराजके।।2.67.11।।


अराजके when there is no king, धनम् wealth, नास्ति not, अराजके without a king, भार्यापि even wife, नास्ति is not, अत्याहितम् cause of great peril, अन्यत् another, इदं च this one also exists, अराजके where there no king, सत्यम् truth, कुतः where?

In a kingdom without a king wealth cannot be preserved, no wife would like to stay (with her husband). There is one more cause for a great peril, that is, there is no place for truth in a country (where there is no king).
नाराजके जनपदे कारयन्ति सभां नराः।

उद्यानानि च रम्याणि हृष्टाः पुण्यगृहाणि च।।2.67.12।।


अराजके where there is no king, जनपदे in a country, नराः people, हृष्टाः rejoiced, सभाम् assembly, रम्याणि delightful, उद्यानानि gardens, पुण्यगृहाणि sacred edifices (like temples), न कारयन्ति are not built.

In a country where there is no king, no assemblies are convened by pleasure seeking people, nor do they build delightful gardens or sacred edifices.
नाराजके जनपदे यज्ञशीला द्विजातयः।

सत्राण्यन्वासते दान्ता ब्राह्मणा स्संशितव्रताः।।2.67.13।।


अराजके without a king, जनपदे in a country, यज्ञशीलाः where sacrificial ceremonies are conducted, दान्ताः selfcontrolled, ब्राह्मणाः versed in the study of Vedas, संशितव्रताः of rigorous austerity, द्विजातयः brahmins, सत्राणि sacrifices, न अन्वासते do not practise.

In a country without a king, selfcontrolled brahmins in charge of sacrificial ceremonies, wellversed in the study of Vedas and strict followers of austerity will not function.
नाराजके जनपदे महायज्ञेषु यज्वनः।

ब्राह्मणा वसुसम्पन्ना विसृजन्त्याप्तदक्षिणाः।।2.67.14।।


अराजके without a king, जनपदे in a country, महायज्ञेषु in great sacrifices, यज्वनः the officiating priests, वसुसम्पन्नाः wealthy, ब्राह्मणाः brahmins, आप्तदक्षिणाः abundant gifts, न विसृजन्ति do not offer.

In a country without a king wealthy brahmins, who have performed great sacrifices, do not offer abundance of gifts to the officiating priests.
नाराजके जनपदे प्रभूतनटनर्तकाः।

उत्सवाश्च समाजाश्च वर्धन्ते राष्ट्रवर्धनाः।।2.67.15।।


अराजके where there is no king, जनपदे in a country, प्रभूतनटनर्तकाः actors and dancers in large numbers, राष्ट्रवर्धनाः promoting the welfare of the country, उत्सवाश्च celebrations, समाजाश्च assemblies, न वर्धन्ते do not prosper.

In a country without a king, celebrations of associations promoting the welfare of the country, actors and dancers in large numbers do not prosper.
नाराजके जनपदे सिद्धार्था व्यवहारिणः।

कथाभिरनुरज्यन्ते कथाशीलाः कथाप्रियैः।।2.67.16।।


अराजके where there is no king, जनपदे in a country, व्यवहारिणः those engaged in
lawsuits, सिद्धार्थाः succeed, न not, कथाशीलाः those who are accustomed to storytelling, कथाप्रियैः with those who love to listen to stories, कथाभिः with stories, न अनुरज्यन्ते are not entertained.

Where there is no king, those engaged in lawsuits will not succeed and those who are accustomed to storytelling will not entertain those who love to listen to stories.
नाराजके जनपदे उद्यानानि समागताः।

सायाह्ने क्रीडितुं यान्ति कुमार्यो हेमभूषिताः।।2.67.17।।


अराजके without a king, जनपदे in a country, हेमभूषिताः adorned with golden ornaments, कुमार्यः maidens, समागताः having met together, सायाह्ने in the evening, क्रीडितुम् for sporting, उद्यानानि in the pleasure gardens, नयान्ति will not go.

In a country without a king, young ladies adorned with golden ornaments no longer meet in the evening at the pleasure garden for sporting.
नाराजके जनपदे वाहनै शशीघ्रगामिभिः।

नरा निर्यान्त्यरण्यानि नारीभिस्सह कामिनः।।2.67.18।।


अराजके without a king, जनपदे in a country, कामिनः pleasureseeking men, नराः men,
नारीभिः with women too, शीघ्रगामिभिः by swift moving, वाहनैः chariots, अरण्यानि in the woods (for recreation), न निर्यान्ति will not go.

In a country without a king, pleasureseeking men will not drive in the woods on swiftmoving chariots with women.
नाराजके जनपदे धनवन्तस्सुरक्षिताः।

शेरते विवृतद्वाराः कृषिगोरक्षजीविनः।।2.67.19।।


अराजके without a king, जनपदे in a country, कृषिगोरक्षजीविनः living by farming and protecting cattle, धनवन्तः wealthy people, सुरक्षिताः wellprotected, विवृतद्वाराः with the
doors wide open, न शेरते do not sleep.

In a country without a king, wealthy people who live on farming and raising cattle cannot sleep safely in their homes with doors wide open.
नाराजके जनपदे बद्धघण्टाविषाणिनः।

अटन्ति राजमार्गेषु कुञ्जरा षष्टिहायनाः।।2.67.20।।


अराजके without a king, जनपदे in a country, षष्टिहायनाः sixty years of age, कुञ्जराः elephants, बद्धघण्टाविषाणिनः of tusks adorned with bells, राजमार्गेषु on the highways, न अटन्ति will not wander about.

In a country without a king, young elephants of sixty years of age, their tusks adorned with bells no longer wander about on the highways.
नाराजके जनपदे शरान्सन्ततमस्यताम्।

श्रूयते तलनिर्घोष इष्वस्त्राणामुपासने।।2.67.21।।


अराजके without a king, जनपदे in a country, इष्वस्त्राणाम् arrows and weapons, उपासने practising (the discharge of), सन्ततम् ceaselessly, शरान् arrows, अस्यताम् shooters throwing, तलनिर्घोषः clappings of the cord on the skin shield (Tala means a protective
covering made of hard skin worn on the left hand to prevent injury), न श्रूयते are not heard.

In a country without a king, the sounds of the ceaseless discharge of arrows and practice of weapons, the clappings of the cord on the skin shield of shooters throwing the arrows are no longer heard.
नाराजके जनपदे वणिजो दूरगामिनः।

गच्छन्ति क्षेममध्वानं बहुपण्यसमाचिताः।।2.67.22।।


अराजके without a king, जनपदे in a country, दूरगामिनः travelling long distances, वणिजः
merchants, बहुपण्यसमाचिताः with several kinds of marketable goods, क्षेमम् safely, अध्वानम् on the way, न गच्छन्ति do not go.

In a country without a king merchants travelling long distances with several kinds of saleable goods cannot go safely on their way.
नाराजके जनपदे चरत्येकचरो वशी।

भावयन्नात्मनाऽत्मानं यत्र सायंगृहो मुनिः।।2.67.23।।


अराजके where there is no king, जनपदे in a country, एकचरः moving alone, वशी selfcontrolled, आत्मना in mind, आत्मानाम् on the higher self, भावयन् contemplating, यत्रसायं गृहः inn, मुनिः ascetic, न चरति does not wander.

In a country where there is no king, an ascetic who (normally) moves alone, selfcontrolled and contemplating on the higher self no longer wanders or rests in the inn.
नाराजके जनपदे योगक्षेमं प्रवर्तते।

नचाप्यराजके सेना शत्रून्विषहते युधि।।2.67.24।।


नाराजके without a king, जनपदे in a country, योगक्षेमम् security of possession, न प्रवर्तते
does not exist, अराजके without a king, सेना army, युधि in a battle, शत्रून् enemies, न विषहते not be able to oppose.

In a country without a king, there is no security of possessions and the army cannot withstand the enemy in a battle.
नाराजके जनपदे हृष्टैः परमवाजिभिः।

नरास्संयान्ति सहसा रथैश्च परिमण्डिताः।।2.67.25।।


अराजके without a king, जनपदे in the country, नराः men, परिमण्डिताः welldressed, हृष्टैः enthusiastically, परमवाजिभिः of excellent horses, रथैश्च chariots, सहसा at once, न संयान्ति
will not go.

In a country without a king, welldressed men are no longer enthusiastic to drive on excellent horses and on chariots.
नाराजके जनपदे नराश्शास्त्रविशारदाः।

संवदन्तोऽवतिष्ठन्ते वनेषूपवनेषु च।।2.67.26।।


अराजके with no king, जनपदे in the country, शास्त्रविशारदाः those wellversed in scriptures, नराः people, वनेषु in the forests, उपवनेषु च in the (recreational) gardens, संवदन्तः conversing, न अवतिष्ठन्ते do not stay.

In a country with no king people proficient in scriptures do not withdraw to the forests and (recreational) gardens for debates (on scriptures).
नाराजके जनपदे माल्यमोदकदक्षिणाः।

देवताभ्यर्चनार्थाय कल्प्यन्ते नियतैर्जनैः।।2.67.27।।


अराजके where there is no king, जनपदे in the country, नियतैः by disciplined ones in spiritual practices, जनैः people, देवताभ्यर्चनार्थाय for worshipping the gods, माल्यमोदकदक्षिणाः garlands of flowers, sweetmeats and alms, न कल्प्यन्ते do not arrange.

In a country where there is no king, people who are disciplined in spiritual practices do not offer garlands of flowers, sweetmeats and alms while worshipping gods.
नाराजके जनपदे चन्दनागरुरूषिताः।

राजपुत्रा विराजन्ते वसन्त इव शाखिनः।।2.67.28।।


अराजके where there is no king, जनपदे in the country, राजपुत्रा: princes, चन्दनागरुरूषिताः anointed with sandal paste and agaru, वसन्ते in spring time, शाखिनः इव like trees, न राजन्ते do not look graceful.

In a country where there is no king, the princes, anointed with sandal paste and agaru, no longer look graceful like blosoming trees in spring time.
यथा ह्यनुदका नद्यः यथा वाऽप्यतृणं वनम्।

अगोपाला यथा गावस्तथा राष्ट्रमराजकम्।।2.67.29।।


अनुदकाः without water, नद्यः rivers, यथा as, आतृणम् without vegetation, वनम् forest, यथा वा or as, आगोपालाः without cowherds, गावः cows, यथा as, अराजकम् without a king, राष्ट्रम् country, तथा is like that.

(The kingdom without a king) is like rivers without water, forests without vegetation and cows without cowherds.
ध्वजो रथस्य प्रज्ञानं धूमो ज्ञानं विभावसोः।

तेषां यो नो ध्वजो राजा स देवत्वमितो गतः।।2.66.30।।


रथस्य of the chariot, ध्वजः the pennant, प्रज्ञानम् a mark of identification, विभावसोः for fire, धूमः smoke, ज्ञानम् is a mark of identification, तेषाम् for such, नः for us, यः that, ध्वजः pennant (with his magnanimity we are recognised), सः राजा that king, इतः from here, देवत्वम् to heaven, गतः has gone.

The pennant is an identification for one's chariot. Smoke is a mark of identifying fire. All of us are recognised by the pennant (magnanimity) of the king and such a king has gone to heaven.
नाराजके जनपदे स्वकं भवति कस्यचित्।

मत्स्या इव नरा नित्यं भक्षयन्ति परस्परम्।।2.67.31।।


अराजके where there is no king, जनपदे in the country, कस्य चित् for any one, स्वकम् as his own, न भवति does not exist, नराः men, मत्स्याः इव like fish, नित्यम् ceaselessly, परस्परम् one another, भक्षयन्ति devour.

In a country where there is no king, no one can own anything and, like fish, people devour one another ceaselessly.
ये हि सम्भिन्नमर्यादा नास्तिकाश्छिन्नसंशयाः।

तेऽपि भावाय कल्पन्ते राजदण्डनिपीडिताः।।2.67.32।।


सम्भिन्नमर्यादाः those disregarding the bounds of morality, छिन्नसंशयाः dispelling doubts, ये हि those, नास्तिकाः atheists, तेऽपि they also, राजदण्डनिपीडिताः when subjected to royal punishment, भावाय for virtuous path, कल्पन्ते adopt.

Atheists, who disregard the bounds of morality and live freely dispelling doubts will tend to follow virtuous path out of fear when subjected to royal punishment.
यथा दृष्टि श्शरीरस्य नित्यमेव प्रवर्तते।

तथा नरेन्द्रो राष्ट्रस्य प्रभवस्सत्यधर्मयोः।।2.67.33।।


दृष्टिः eye, नित्यमेव perpetually, यथा as, शरीरस्य of the body (for its protection), प्रवर्तते is engaged, तथा similarly, नरेन्द्रः king, राष्ट्रस्य for the country's, सत्यधर्मयोः for truth and ethics, प्रभवः is the source.

The king is the source for protecting the truth and morality of a country like the eye
which perpetually watches the welfare of the body.
राजा सत्यं च धर्मश्च राजा कुलवतां कुलम्।

राजा माता पिता चैव राजा हितकरो नृणाम्।।2.67.34।।


राजा king, सत्यं च truth, धर्मश्च righteousness, राजा king, कुलवताम् for men of good families, कुलम् family, राजा king alone, माता mother, पिताचैव father also, राजा king, नृणाम् for people, हितकरः one who renders welfare.

The king is the protector of truth and righteousness, of men of good families. He is father, and mother. He alone renders welfare of the people.
यमो वैश्रवण श्शक्रः वरुणश्च महाबलः।

विशेष्यन्ते नरेन्द्रेण वृत्तेन महता ततः।।2.67.35।।


ततः for that reason, यमः lord of death, Yama, वैश्रवणः Vaisravana, शक्रः Indra, महाबलः mighty, वरुणश्च Varuna, नरेन्द्रेण by the king, महता excellent, वृत्तेन with conduct विशेष्यन्ते are surpassed.

Hence, the king with his excellent conduct surpasses mighty Yama, Vaisravana, Indra and Varuna.
अहो तम इवेदं स्यान्नप्रज्ञायेत किञ्चन।

राजा चे न्न भवे ल्लोके विभज साध्वसाधुनी।।2.67.36।।


अहो how great, राजा a king, साध्वसाधुनी good and evil actions, विभजन् showing the distinction, लोके in the world, न भवेद्यदि if it were not to happen, इदम् this, तमः स्यात् would be darkness, किञ्चन even a little, न प्रज्ञायेत could not have been known.

If the king did not show the distinction between the good and evil actions, this world would have been enveloped by darkness. Nothing could have been seen. How great (is the king)?
जीवत्यपि महाराजे तवैव वचनं वयम्।

नातिक्रमामहे सर्वे वेलां प्राप्येव सागरः।।2.67.37।।


महाराजे when the great king, जीवत्यपि was alive also, वयम् we, सर्वे all, सागरः sea, वेलाम् shore, प्राप्येव after reaching, तव your, वचनमेव words, नातिक्रमामहे never overstepped.

Even while the great king was alive, we never defied your word like the ocean which does not overstep its shore.
स न स्समीक्ष्य द्विजवर्य वृत्तं नृपं विना राज्यमरण्यभूतम्।

कुमारमिक्ष्वाकुसुतं वदान्यं त्वमेव राजानमिहाभिषिञ्च।।2.67.38।।


द्विजवर्य O best of brahmins, सः you, वृत्तम् all that has happened, समीक्ष्य having considered, नृपं विना without a king, राज्यम् kingdom, अरण्यभूतम् like a forest, त्वमेव yourself, इह here, वदान्यम् generous, इक्ष्वाकु सुतम् born in the Ikshvaku race, कुमारम् son, नः for us, राजानम् as king, अभिषिञ्च consecrate him.

O Vasistha, the best of brahmins, considering all that has happened and knowing that a kingdom without a king is like a forest, you may consecrate a generous son from the Ikshvaku race as our king.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे सप्तषष्टितमस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the sixtyseventh sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.