Sloka & Translation

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

ākranditanirānandā sāsrakaṇṭhajanākulā.

ayōdhyāyāmavatatā sā vyatīyāya śarvarī৷৷2.67.1৷৷


ayōdhyāyām in Ayodhya, ākranditanirānandā rendered cheerless by the lamentations, sāsrakaṇṭhajanākulā filled with sobbing people, avatatāḥ stretched interminably, sā śarvarī that night, vyatīyāya passed away.

The night stretched interminably in Ayodhya, which was filled with sobbing people rendered cheerless by their lamentations.
vyatītāyāṅ tu śarvaryāmādityasyōdayē tataḥ.

samētya rājakartāraḥ sabhāmīyurdvijātayaḥ৷৷2.67.2৷৷


tataḥ then, śarvaryām when the night, vyatītāyāṅ tu passed, ādityasya udayē at sunrise, rājakartāraḥ those who perform royal investiture, dvijātayaḥ brahmins, samētya having been called, sabhām
assembly hall, īyuḥ 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.
mārkaṇḍēyō.tha maudgalyō vāmadēvaśca kāśyapaḥ.

kātyāyanō gautamaśca jābāliśca mahāyaśāḥ৷৷2.67.3৷৷

ētē dvijā ssahāmātyaiḥ pṛthagvā ca mudīrayan.

vasiṣṭhamēvābhimukhāḥ śrēṣṭhaṅ rājapurōhitam৷৷2.67.4৷৷


mārkaṇḍēyaḥ Markandeya, atha and, maudgalyaḥ Maudgalya, atha also, kāśyapaḥ Kasyapa, kātyāyanaḥ Katyayana, gautamaśca Gautama also, mahāyaśāḥ of great renown, jābāliśca Jabali too, ētē these, dvijāḥ brahmins, amātyaiḥ saha with ministers, śrēṣṭham the chief, rājapurōhitam king's priest, vasiṣṭhamēva Vasistha himself, abhimukhāḥ approached, pṛthak different, vācam opinions udīrayan 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).
atītā śarvarī duḥkhaṅ yā nō varṣaśatōpamā.

asminpañcatvamāpannē putraśōkēna pārthivē৷৷2.67.5৷৷


asmin pārthivē this king, putraśōkēna out of grief over (seperation from) his son, pañcatvam dissolution into the five elements (death), āpannē having attained, yā that night, naḥ for us, varṣaśatōpamā like a hundred years, śarvarī such night, duḥkham sorrowful, atītā 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).
svargataśca mahārājō rāmaścāraṇyamāśritaḥ.

lakṣmaṇaścāpi tējasvī rāmēṇaiva gatassaha৷৷2.67.6৷৷


mahārājaḥ the great king, svargataśca had attained heaven, rāmaśca Rama also, araṇyam in the forest, āśritaḥ taken refuge, tējasvī lustrous, lakṣmaṇaśca Lakshmana, rāmēṇaiva saha with Rama, gataḥ went.

The great king has attained heaven, Rama has taken refuge in the forest and brilliant Lakshmana has also gone with Rama.
ubhau bharataśatrughnau kēkayēṣu parantapau.

purē rājagṛhē ramyē mātāmahanivēśanē৷৷2.67.7৷৷


parantapau destroyers of enemies, bharataśatrughnau Bharata and Satrughna, ubhau both, kēkayēṣu in the Kekaya kingdom, rājagṛhē at Rajagriha, purē city, ramyē beautiful, mātāmahanivēśanē 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.
ikṣvākūṇāmihādyaiva kaścidrājā vidhīyatām.

arājakaṅ hi nō rāṣṭraṅ vināśaṅ samavāpnuyāt৷৷2.67.8৷৷


ikṣvākūṇām in the race of Ikshvakus, kaścit anyone, iha here, adyaiva right now, rājā as king, vidhīyatām should be made, arājakam without a king, naḥ our, rāṣṭram country, vināśam destruction, (sam ava) āpnuyāt will attain.

Therefore, let someone from the race of Ikshvakus be appointed king right now. since without a king, the country will be destroyed.
nārājakē janapadē vidyunmālī mahāsvanaḥ.

abhivarṣati parjanyō mahīṅ divyēna vāriṇā৷৷2.67.9৷৷


arājakē where there is no king, janapadē in a country, vidyunmālī garlanded with a row of lightning, mahāsvanaḥ thunderous, parjanyaḥ rain-god, mahīm the earth, divyēna with celestial, vāriṇā with rain, nābhivarṣati does not shower.

In a country without a king, thunderous clouds garlanded by lightning would no longer water the earth with celestial showers.
nārājakē janapadē bījamuṣṭiḥ prakīryatē.

nārājakē pituḥ putrō bhāryā vā vartatē vaśē৷৷2.67.10৷৷


arājakē where there is no king, janapadē in a country, bījamuṣṭiḥ handfuls of seeds, na prakīryatē will not be sown (sprout), arājakē where there no king, putra: son, bhāryā vā or wife, pituḥ father's, vaśē control, na vartatē 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).
nārājakē dhanaṅ cāsti nāsti bhāryā pyarājakē.

ida matyāhitaṅ cānyatkutassatya marājakē৷৷2.67.11৷৷


arājakē when there is no king, dhanam wealth, nāsti not, arājakē without a king, bhāryāpi even wife, nāsti is not, atyāhitam cause of great peril, anyat another, idaṅ ca this one also exists, arājakē where there no king, satyam truth, kutaḥ 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).
nārājakē janapadē kārayanti sabhāṅ narāḥ.

udyānāni ca ramyāṇi hṛṣṭāḥ puṇyagṛhāṇi ca৷৷2.67.12৷৷


arājakē where there is no king, janapadē in a country, narāḥ people, hṛṣṭāḥ rejoiced, sabhām assembly, ramyāṇi delightful, udyānāni gardens, puṇyagṛhāṇi sacred edifices (like temples), na kārayanti 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.
nārājakē janapadē yajñaśīlā dvijātayaḥ.

satrāṇyanvāsatē dāntā brāhmaṇā ssaṅśitavratāḥ৷৷2.67.13৷৷


arājakē without a king, janapadē in a country, yajñaśīlāḥ where sacrificial ceremonies are conducted, dāntāḥ self-controlled, brāhmaṇāḥ versed in the study of Vedas, saṅśitavratāḥ of rigorous austerity, dvijātayaḥ brahmins, satrāṇi sacrifices, na anvāsatē do not practise.

In a country without a king, self-controlled brahmins in charge of sacrificial ceremonies, well-versed in the study of Vedas and strict followers of austerity will not function.
nārājakē janapadē mahāyajñēṣu yajvanaḥ.

brāhmaṇā vasusampannā visṛjantyāptadakṣiṇāḥ৷৷2.67.14৷৷


arājakē without a king, janapadē in a country, mahāyajñēṣu in great sacrifices, yajvanaḥ the officiating priests, vasusampannāḥ wealthy, brāhmaṇāḥ brahmins, āptadakṣiṇāḥ abundant gifts, na visṛjanti 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.
nārājakē janapadē prabhūtanaṭanartakāḥ.

utsavāśca samājāśca vardhantē rāṣṭravardhanāḥ৷৷2.67.15৷৷


arājakē where there is no king, janapadē in a country, prabhūtanaṭanartakāḥ actors and dancers in large numbers, rāṣṭravardhanāḥ promoting the welfare of the country, utsavāśca celebrations, samājāśca assemblies, na vardhantē 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.
nārājakē janapadē siddhārthā vyavahāriṇaḥ.

kathābhiranurajyantē kathāśīlāḥ kathāpriyaiḥ৷৷2.67.16৷৷


arājakē where there is no king, janapadē in a country, vyavahāriṇaḥ those engaged in
law-suits, siddhārthāḥ succeed, na not, kathāśīlāḥ those who are accustomed to story-telling, kathāpriyaiḥ with those who love to listen to stories, kathābhiḥ with stories, na anurajyantē are not entertained.

Where there is no king, those engaged in law-suits will not succeed and those who are accustomed to story-telling will not entertain those who love to listen to stories.
nārājakē janapadē udyānāni samāgatāḥ.

sāyāhnē krīḍituṅ yānti kumāryō hēmabhūṣitāḥ৷৷2.67.17৷৷


arājakē without a king, janapadē in a country, hēmabhūṣitāḥ adorned with golden ornaments, kumāryaḥ maidens, samāgatāḥ having met together, sāyāhnē in the evening, krīḍitum for sporting, udyānāni in the pleasure gardens, nayānti 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.
nārājakē janapadē vāhanai śaśīghragāmibhiḥ.

narā niryāntyaraṇyāni nārībhissaha kāminaḥ৷৷2.67.18৷৷


arājakē without a king, janapadē in a country, kāminaḥ pleasure-seeking men, narāḥ men,
nārībhiḥ with women too, śīghragāmibhiḥ by swift moving, vāhanaiḥ chariots, araṇyāni in the woods (for recreation), na niryānti will not go.

In a country without a king, pleasure-seeking men will not drive in the woods on swift-moving chariots with women.
nārājakē janapadē dhanavantassurakṣitāḥ.

śēratē vivṛtadvārāḥ kṛṣigōrakṣajīvinaḥ৷৷2.67.19৷৷


arājakē without a king, janapadē in a country, kṛṣigōrakṣajīvinaḥ living by farming and protecting cattle, dhanavantaḥ wealthy people, surakṣitāḥ well-protected, vivṛtadvārāḥ with the
doors wide open, na śēratē 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.
nārājakē janapadē baddhaghaṇṭāviṣāṇinaḥ.

aṭanti rājamārgēṣu kuñjarā ṣaṣṭihāyanāḥ৷৷2.67.20৷৷


arājakē without a king, janapadē in a country, ṣaṣṭihāyanāḥ sixty years of age, kuñjarāḥ elephants, baddhaghaṇṭāviṣāṇinaḥ of tusks adorned with bells, rājamārgēṣu on the highways, na aṭanti 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.
nārājakē janapadē śarānsantatamasyatām.

śrūyatē talanirghōṣa iṣvastrāṇāmupāsanē৷৷2.67.21৷৷


arājakē without a king, janapadē in a country, iṣvastrāṇām arrows and weapons, upāsanē practising (the discharge of), santatam ceaselessly, śarān arrows, asyatām shooters throwing, talanirghōṣaḥ 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), na śrūyatē 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.
nārājakē janapadē vaṇijō dūragāminaḥ.

gacchanti kṣēmamadhvānaṅ bahupaṇyasamācitāḥ৷৷2.67.22৷৷


arājakē without a king, janapadē in a country, dūragāminaḥ travelling long distances, vaṇijaḥ
merchants, bahupaṇyasamācitāḥ with several kinds of marketable goods, kṣēmam safely, adhvānam on the way, na gacchanti 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.
nārājakē janapadē caratyēkacarō vaśī.

bhāvayannātmanā.tmānaṅ yatra sāyaṅgṛhō muniḥ৷৷2.67.23৷৷


arājakē where there is no king, janapadē in a country, ēkacaraḥ moving alone, vaśī self-controlled, ātmanā in mind, ātmānām on the higher self, bhāvayan contemplating, yatrasāyaṅ gṛhaḥ inn, muniḥ ascetic, na carati does not wander.

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.
nārājakē janapadē yōgakṣēmaṅ pravartatē.

nacāpyarājakē sēnā śatrūnviṣahatē yudhi৷৷2.67.24৷৷


nārājakē without a king, janapadē in a country, yōgakṣēmam security of possession, na pravartatē
does not exist, arājakē without a king, sēnā army, yudhi in a battle, śatrūn enemies, na viṣahatē 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.
nārājakē janapadē hṛṣṭaiḥ paramavājibhiḥ.

narāssaṅyānti sahasā rathaiśca parimaṇḍitāḥ৷৷2.67.25৷৷


arājakē without a king, janapadē in the country, narāḥ men, parimaṇḍitāḥ well-dressed, hṛṣṭaiḥ enthusiastically, paramavājibhiḥ of excellent horses, rathaiśca chariots, sahasā at once, na saṅyānti
will not go.

In a country without a king, well-dressed men are no longer enthusiastic to drive on excellent horses and on chariots.
nārājakē janapadē narāśśāstraviśāradāḥ.

saṅvadantō.vatiṣṭhantē vanēṣūpavanēṣu ca৷৷2.67.26৷৷


arājakē with no king, janapadē in the country, śāstraviśāradāḥ those well-versed in scriptures, narāḥ people, vanēṣu in the forests, upavanēṣu ca in the (recreational) gardens, saṅvadantaḥ conversing, na avatiṣṭhantē 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).
nārājakē janapadē mālyamōdakadakṣiṇāḥ.

dēvatābhyarcanārthāya kalpyantē niyatairjanaiḥ৷৷2.67.27৷৷


arājakē where there is no king, janapadē in the country, niyataiḥ by disciplined ones in spiritual practices, janaiḥ people, dēvatābhyarcanārthāya for worshipping the gods, mālyamōdakadakṣiṇāḥ garlands of flowers, sweetmeats and alms, na kalpyantē 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.
nārājakē janapadē candanāgarurūṣitāḥ.

rājaputrā virājantē vasanta iva śākhinaḥ৷৷2.67.28৷৷


arājakē where there is no king, janapadē in the country, rājaputrā: princes, candanāgarurūṣitāḥ anointed with sandal paste and agaru, vasantē in spring time, śākhinaḥ iva like trees, na rājantē 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.
yathā hyanudakā nadyaḥ yathā vā.pyatṛṇaṅ vanam.

agōpālā yathā gāvastathā rāṣṭramarājakam৷৷2.67.29৷৷


anudakāḥ without water, nadyaḥ rivers, yathā as, ātṛṇam without vegetation, vanam forest, yathā vā or as, āgōpālāḥ without cowherds, gāvaḥ cows, yathā as, arājakam without a king, rāṣṭram country, tathā is like that.

(The kingdom without a king) is like rivers without water, forests without vegetation and cows without cowherds.
dhvajō rathasya prajñānaṅ dhūmō jñānaṅ vibhāvasōḥ.

tēṣāṅ yō nō dhvajō rājā sa dēvatvamitō gataḥ৷৷2.66.30৷৷


rathasya of the chariot, dhvajaḥ the pennant, prajñānam a mark of identification, vibhāvasōḥ for fire, dhūmaḥ smoke, jñānam is a mark of identification, tēṣām for such, naḥ for us, yaḥ that, dhvajaḥ pennant (with his magnanimity we are recognised), saḥ rājā that king, itaḥ from here, dēvatvam to heaven, gataḥ 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.
nārājakē janapadē svakaṅ bhavati kasyacit.

matsyā iva narā nityaṅ bhakṣayanti parasparam৷৷2.67.31৷৷


arājakē where there is no king, janapadē in the country, kasya cit for any one, svakam as his own, na bhavati does not exist, narāḥ men, matsyāḥ iva like fish, nityam ceaselessly, parasparam one another, bhakṣayanti devour.

In a country where there is no king, no one can own anything and, like fish, people devour one another ceaselessly.
yē hi sambhinnamaryādā nāstikāśchinnasaṅśayāḥ.

tē.pi bhāvāya kalpantē rājadaṇḍanipīḍitāḥ৷৷2.67.32৷৷


sambhinnamaryādāḥ those disregarding the bounds of morality, chinnasaṅśayāḥ dispelling doubts, yē hi those, nāstikāḥ atheists, tē.pi they also, rājadaṇḍanipīḍitāḥ when subjected to royal punishment, bhāvāya for virtuous path, kalpantē 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.
yathā dṛṣṭi śśarīrasya nityamēva pravartatē.

tathā narēndrō rāṣṭrasya prabhavassatyadharmayōḥ৷৷2.67.33৷৷


dṛṣṭiḥ eye, nityamēva perpetually, yathā as, śarīrasya of the body (for its protection), pravartatē is engaged, tathā similarly, narēndraḥ king, rāṣṭrasya for the country's, satyadharmayōḥ for truth and ethics, prabhavaḥ 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.
rājā satyaṅ ca dharmaśca rājā kulavatāṅ kulam.

rājā mātā pitā caiva rājā hitakarō nṛṇām৷৷2.67.34৷৷


rājā king, satyaṅ ca truth, dharmaśca righteousness, rājā king, kulavatām for men of good families, kulam family, rājā king alone, mātā mother, pitācaiva father also, rājā king, nṛṇām for people, hitakaraḥ 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.
yamō vaiśravaṇa śśakraḥ varuṇaśca mahābalaḥ.

viśēṣyantē narēndrēṇa vṛttēna mahatā tataḥ৷৷2.67.35৷৷


tataḥ for that reason, yamaḥ lord of death, Yama, vaiśravaṇaḥ Vaisravana, śakraḥ Indra, mahābalaḥ mighty, varuṇaśca Varuna, narēndrēṇa by the king, mahatā excellent, vṛttēna with conduct viśēṣyantē are surpassed.

Hence, the king with his excellent conduct surpasses mighty Yama, Vaisravana, Indra and Varuna.
ahō tama ivēdaṅ syānnaprajñāyēta kiñcana.

rājā cē nna bhavē llōkē vibhaja sādhvasādhunī৷৷2.67.36৷৷


ahō how great, rājā a king, sādhvasādhunī good and evil actions, vibhajan showing the distinction, lōkē in the world, na bhavēdyadi if it were not to happen, idam this, tamaḥ syāt would be darkness, kiñcana even a little, na prajñāyēta 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)?
jīvatyapi mahārājē tavaiva vacanaṅ vayam.

nātikramāmahē sarvē vēlāṅ prāpyēva sāgaraḥ৷৷2.67.37৷৷


mahārājē when the great king, jīvatyapi was alive also, vayam we, sarvē all, sāgaraḥ sea, vēlām shore, prāpyēva after reaching, tava your, vacanamēva words, nātikramāmahē never overstepped.

Even while the great king was alive, we never defied your word like the ocean which does not overstep its shore.
sa na ssamīkṣya dvijavarya vṛttaṅ nṛpaṅ vinā rājyamaraṇyabhūtam.

kumāramikṣvākusutaṅ vadānyaṅ tvamēva rājānamihābhiṣiñca৷৷2.67.38৷৷


dvijavarya O best of brahmins!, saḥ you, vṛttam all that has happened, samīkṣya having considered, nṛpaṅ vinā without a king, rājyam kingdom, araṇyabhūtam like a forest, tvamēva yourself, iha here, vadānyam generous, ikṣvāku sutam born in the Ikshvaku race, kumāram son, naḥ for us, rājānam as king, abhiṣiñca 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.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē saptaṣaṣṭitamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the sixtyseventh sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.