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Ayodhya Kaanda - Sarga 67
In this Sarga, the prominent Brāhmaṇas and ministers approach Vasishṭha and implore him to consecrate one of the sons of the Ikshwāku dynasty as the king immediately. In this context, they outline the anarchy that could ensue in a kingdom in the absence of a King.
Vālmeeki takes the opportunity in this unique Sarga, to outline what is to be expected in a properly ruled country, which includes flourishing artists, businessmen who are rich and feeling safe in carrying their merchandise, scientists expounding on their respective subjects, young women playing in the evenings in the parks, romantic couples running to secluded woods, warriors practicing martial arts, devotees making offerings in places of worship and so on.
This outline of a well-to-do society is timeless. Nothing more could be desired even today, of any society.
2.67.1 ஆக்ரந்திதநிராநந்தா ஸாஸ்ரகண்டஜநாகுலா ।
அயோத்யாயாமவததா ஸா வ்யதீயாய ஸர்வரீ ॥
ākranditanirānandā sāsrakaṇṭhajanākulā ।
ayōdhyāyāmavatatā sā vyatīyāya ṡarvarī ॥
Night in Ayōdhyā, joyless with cries and
distressed with people whose throats were choked with tears,
was long and passed slowly.
5.67.2 வ்யதீதாயாம் து ஸர்வர்யாமாதித்யஸ்யோதயே தத: ।
ஸமேத்ய ராஜகர்தார: ஸபாமீயுர்த்விஜாதய: ॥
vyatītāyāṃ tu ṡarvaryāmādityasyōdayē tataḥ ।
samētya rājakartāraḥ sabhāmīyurdvijātayaḥ ॥
At last, when the night came to an end and the sun rose,
Brāhmaṇas, the king makers, assembled together.
2.67.3-4 மார்கண்டேயோऽத மௌத்கல்யோ வாமதேவஸ்ச காஸ்யப: ।
காத்யாயநோ கௌதமஸ்ச ஜாபாலிஸ்ச மஹாயஸா: ॥
ஏதே த்விஜா ஸ்ஸஹாமாத்யை: ப்ருதக்வா ச முதீரயந் ।
வஸிஷ்டமேவாபிமுகா: ஸ்ரேஷ்டம் ராஜபுரோஹிதம் ॥
mārkaṇḍēyō'tha maudgalyō vāmadēvaṡca kāṡyapaḥ ।
kātyāyanō gautamaṡca jābāliṡca mahāyaṡāḥ ॥
ētē dvijā ssahāmātyaiḥ pṛthagvā ca mudīrayan ।
vasiṣṭhamēvābhimukhāḥ ṡrēṣṭhaṃ rājapurōhitam ॥
The Brāhmaṇas,
Mārkaṇḍēya and Moudgalya, Vāmadēva and Kāṡyapa,
Kātyāyana, Goutama and the renowned Jābāli,
along with the ministers,
turned to Vasishṭha, the royal Purōhita,
and each one of them said:
2.67.5 அதீதா ஸர்வரீ து:கம் யா நோ வர்ஷஸதோபமா ।
அஸ்மிந்பஞ்சத்வமாபந்நே புத்ரஸோகேந பார்திவே ॥
atītā ṡarvarī duḥkhaṃ yā nō varṣaṡatōpamā ।
asminpañcatvamāpannē putraṡōkēna pārthivē ॥
The night passed slowly, as if it was a hundred years long,
with the king dead, out of grief for his son.
2.67.6 ஸ்வர்கதஸ்ச மஹாராஜோ ராமஸ்சாரண்யமாஸ்ரித: ।
லக்ஷ்மணஸ்சாபி தேஜஸ்வீ ராமேணைவ கதஸ்ஸஹ ॥
svargataṡca mahārājō rāmaṡcāraṇyamāṡritaḥ ।
lakṣmaṇaṡcāpi tējasvī rāmēṇaiva gatassaha ॥
The supreme king is in heaven. Rāma is in the forest.
The radiant Lakshmaṇa is also away with Rāma. Life throws interesting contrasts. And poet Vālmeeki never fails to make a note of them.
All the four sons were away when the king died; two of them in a desolate forest and two of them, by contrast, in a delightful royal palace in a city.
2.67.7 உபௌ பரதஸத்ருக்நௌ கேகயேஷு பரந்தபௌ ।
புரே ராஜக்ருஹே ரம்யே மாதாமஹநிவேஸநே ॥
ubhau bharataṡatrughnau kēkayēṣu parantapau ।
purē rājagṛhē ramyē mātāmahanivēṡanē ॥
The duo, Bharata and Ṡatrughna, scorchers of the foe,
are in the Kēkaya country in their
grandfather’s delightful royal palace in the city.
2.67.8 இக்ஷ்வாகூணாமிஹாத்யைவ கஸ்சித்ராஜா விதீயதாம் ।
அராஜகம் ஹி நோ ராஷ்ட்ரம் விநாஸம் ஸமவாப்நுயாத் ॥
ikṣvākūṇāmihādyaiva kaṡcidrājā vidhīyatām ।
arājakaṃ hi nō rāṣṭraṃ vināṡaṃ samavāpnuyāt ॥
Let someone from the lineage of Ikshwāku
be made the King this very day!
For, a kingdom without a king would
see its own destruction!
2.67.9 நாராஜகே ஜநபதே வித்யுந்மாலீ மஹாஸ்வந: ।
அபிவர்ஷதி பர்ஜந்யோ மஹீம் திவ்யேந வாரிணா ॥
nārājakē janapadē vidyunmālī mahāsvanaḥ ।
abhivarṣati parjanyō mahīṃ divyēna vāriṇā ॥
In a country without a king,
clouds with thunder and lightning
would not drench the country
with their divine waters. Ṡlōkas 9 to 28 start with ‘In a country without a King’ – it should be understood as ‘in a country without law and order’.
2.67.10 நாராஜகே ஜநபதே பீஜமுஷ்டி: ப்ரகீர்யதே ।
நாராஜகே பிது: புத்ரோ பார்யா வா வர்ததே வஸே ॥
nārājakē janapadē bījamuṣṭiḥ prakīryatē ।
nārājakē pituḥ putrō bhāryā vā vartatē vaṡē ॥
In a country without a king,
not a handful of seed would be broadcasted;
neither the sons nor the wife would obey
the head of the household!
2.67.11 நாராஜகே தநம் சாஸ்தி நாஸ்தி பார்யா ப்யராஜகே ।
இத மத்யாஹிதம் சாந்யத்குதஸ்ஸத்ய மராஜகே ॥
nārājakē dhanaṃ cāsti nāsti bhāryā pyarājakē ।
ida matyāhitaṃ cānyatkutassatya marājakē ॥
When there is no king, there is
neither (a sense of) money nor (a sense of) wife.
Worse yet, there would be nothing like honoring one’s word.
2.67.12 நாராஜகே ஜநபதே காரயந்தி ஸபாம் நரா: ।
உத்யாநாநி ச ரம்யாணி ஹ்ருஷ்டா: புண்யக்ருஹாணி ச ॥
nārājakē janapadē kārayanti sabhāṃ narāḥ ।
udyānāni ca ramyāṇi hṛṣṭāḥ puṇyagṛhāṇi ca ॥
Without a king, neither people would assemble happily,
nor would they build recreational parks and sacred edifices. Parks and sacred edifices are an indication of a prosperous society.
2.67.13 நாராஜகே ஜநபதே யஜ்ஞஸீலா த்விஜாதய: ।
ஸத்ராண்யந்வாஸதே தாந்தா ப்ராஹ்மணா ஸ்ஸம்ஸிதவ்ரதா: ॥
nārājakē janapadē yajñaṡīlā dvijātayaḥ ।
satrāṇyanvāsatē dāntā brāhmaṇā ssaṃṡitavratāḥ ॥
In a country without a King, even Brāhmaṇas
who are accustomed to performing Yajñas
would not perform the Yajñas,
with the usual control of mind
and the rigor of discipline.
2.67.14 நாராஜகே ஜநபதே மஹாயஜ்ஞேஷு யஜ்வந: ।
ப்ராஹ்மணா வஸுஸம்பந்நா விஸ்ருஜந்த்யாப்ததக்ஷிணா: ॥
nārājakē janapadē mahāyajñēṣu yajvanaḥ ।
brāhmaṇā vasusampannā visṛjantyāptadakṣiṇāḥ ॥
In a country without a King,
even Brāhmaṇas of abundant means
would not give proper honorariums
at the time of great Yajñas!
2.67.15 நாராஜகே ஜநபதே ப்ரபூதநடநர்தகா: ।
உத்ஸவாஸ்ச ஸமாஜாஸ்ச வர்தந்தே ராஷ்ட்ரவர்தநா: ॥
nārājakē janapadē prabhūtanaṭanartakāḥ ।
utsavāṡca samājāṡca vardhantē rāṣṭravardhanāḥ ॥
In a country without a King,
talented entertainers and dancers
who are a mark of a flourishing kingdom,
would not thrive even at the time of festivals and fairs.
2.67.16 நாராஜகே ஜநபதே ஸித்தார்தா வ்யவஹாரிண: ।
கதாபிரநுரஜ்யந்தே கதாஸீலா: கதாப்ரியை: ॥
nārājakē janapadē siddhārthā vyavahāriṇaḥ ।
kathābhiranurajyantē kathāṡīlāḥ kathāpriyaiḥ ॥
In a country without a King,
those caught in legal matters
would not be able to find settlements.
Those who enjoy telling stories and listening to stories,
would not be able to have the joy of the stories.
2.67.17 நாராஜகே ஜநபதே உத்யாநாநி ஸமாகதா: ।
ஸாயாஹ்நே க்ரீடிதும் யாந்தி குமார்யோ ஹேமபூஷிதா: ॥
nārājakē janapadē udyānāni samāgatāḥ ।
sāyāhnē krīḍituṃ yānti kumāryō hēmabhūṣitāḥ ॥
In a country without a King,
young girls, decked in gold, would not be able to
assemble in parks in the evening to play. Wow! Ṡlōka 17 and 18 certainly surprise us, about the days and times of Rāmāyaṇa.
Young girls of those days are not housebound, as we imagine them to be! They used to enjoy going to parks (not pubs!) in the evening. And they had no concerns, obviously, about wearing real gold jewelry on them, in public!
Considering the Nirbhaya case, it must be said that our society has fallen down in its standards in many ways since the times of Rāmāyaṇa! Our expectations of the rulers are much lower now, without a doubt!
Romantic men flying off in fast vehicles along with their lovers to secluded places seems to have been the norm in those days! Speak of being liberal! Compare that to the harassment of lovers in public parks today by police and right wing goons!
Mahatma Gandhi used to say that we can claim to be independent only when a girl can walk freely at night without any fear! Being a devotee of Rāma, he could very well have been aware of these Ṡlōkas.
2.67.18 நாராஜகே ஜநபதே வாஹநை ஸஸீக்ரகாமிபி: ।
நரா நிர்யாந்த்யரண்யாநி நாரீபிஸ்ஸஹ காமிந: ॥
nārājakē janapadē vāhanai ṡaṡīghragāmibhiḥ ।
narā niryāntyaraṇyāni nārībhissaha kāminaḥ ॥
In a country without a King,
men in a romantic mood,
would not be able to get away
into the woods in fast vehicles
along with their women.
2.67.19 நாராஜகே ஜநபதே தநவந்தஸ்ஸுரக்ஷிதா: ।
ஸேரதே விவ்ருதத்வாரா: க்ருஷிகோரக்ஷஜீவிந: ॥
nārājakē janapadē dhanavantassurakṣitāḥ ।
ṡēratē vivṛtadvārāḥ kṛṣigōrakṣajīvinaḥ ॥
In a country without a King,
the rich people, those who
cultivate lands and farm cows,
would not find the protection they need,
to sleep leaving the doors of their houses wide open.
2.67.20 நாராஜகே ஜநபதே பத்தகண்டாவிஷாணிந: ।
அடந்தி ராஜமார்கேஷு குஞ்ஜரா ஷஷ்டிஹாயநா: ॥
nārājakē janapadē baddhaghaṇṭāviṣāṇinaḥ ।
aṭanti rājamārgēṣu kuñjarā ṣaṣṭihāyanāḥ ॥
In a country without a King,
sixty year old elephants with
their splendid tusks adorned by bells
would not be able to throng the royal pathways.
2.67.21 நாராஜகே ஜநபதே ஸராந்ஸந்ததமஸ்யதாம் ।
ஸ்ரூயதே தலநிர்கோஷ இஷ்வஸ்த்ராணாமுபாஸநே ॥
nārājakē janapadē ṡarānsantatamasyatām ।
ṡrūyatē talanirghōṣa iṣvastrāṇāmupāsanē ॥
In a country without a king,
the thud of the bowstring against the palm of those
who incessantly discharge arrows
learning archery and the use of magic weapons
would not be heard. The sound mentioned in this Ṡlōka is like the sounds coming from the pull of triggers of the guns, by those who practice shooting.
2.67.22 நாராஜகே ஜநபதே வணிஜோ தூரகாமிந: ।
கச்சந்தி க்ஷேமமத்வாநம் பஹுபண்யஸமாசிதா: ॥
nārājakē janapadē vaṇijō dūragāminaḥ ।
gacchanti kṣēmamadhvānaṃ bahupaṇyasamācitāḥ ॥
In a country without a King,
traders that go on long journeys
with large volumes of merchandise,
would not feel safe on the roads.
2.67.23 நாராஜகே ஜநபதே சரத்யேகசரோ வஸீ ।
பாவயந்நாத்மநாऽத்மாநம் யத்ர ஸாயம்க்ருஹோ முநி: ॥
nārājakē janapadē caratyēkacarō vaṡī ।
bhāvayannātmanā'tmānaṃ yatra sāyaṃgṛhō muniḥ ॥
In a country without a King,
cannot be found a Muni, that lone wanderer,
who focuses on nothing but on the Self
with all his senses withdrawn,
making it a home wherever he ends up by the sunset! What an acceptance of diversity! Everyone seems to have been accepted in that society, from loners, to romantics, to people ever busy trying to become rich.
It has become fashionable only in modern times for one to bash the other; ascetics bash the rich, spiritual folks bash the romantic, and so on.
Also, please excuse me for this note of personal indulgence: If I have a chance, this is exactly how I would like to live, as described in this Ṡlōka!
But alas, we are living in a world where everyone has to work and pay taxes!
2.67.24 நாராஜகே ஜநபதே யோகக்ஷேமம் ப்ரவர்ததே ।
நசாப்யராஜகே ஸேநா ஸத்ரூந்விஷஹதே யுதி ॥
nārājakē janapadē yōgakṣēmaṃ pravartatē ।
nacāpyarājakē sēnā ṡatrūnviṣahatē yudhi ॥
In a country without a King,
there is neither safety nor wellbeing.
In a country without a King,
the army would not be able to
stand up to the foe in a battle.
2.67.25 நாராஜகே ஜநபதே ஹ்ருஷ்டை: பரமவாஜிபி: ।
நராஸ்ஸம்யாந்தி ஸஹஸா ரதைஸ்ச பரிமண்டிதா: ॥
nārājakē janapadē hṛṣṭaiḥ paramavājibhiḥ ।
narāssaṃyānti sahasā rathaiṡca parimaṇḍitāḥ ॥
In a country without a king,
cheerful folks, dressed well,
would not be able to go about
in their exquisite horses and chariots.
2.67.26 நாராஜகே ஜநபதே நராஸ்ஸாஸ்த்ரவிஸாரதா: ।
ஸம்வதந்தோऽவதிஷ்டந்தே வநேஷூபவநேஷு ச ॥
nārājakē janapadē narāṡṡāstraviṡāradāḥ ।
saṃvadantō'vatiṣṭhantē vanēṣūpavanēṣu ca ॥
In a country without a king,
the scholars of many sciences,
would not be found expounding on them
in the Vanas and groves!
2.67.27 நாராஜகே ஜநபதே மால்யமோதகதக்ஷிணா: ।
தேவதாப்யர்சநார்தாய கல்ப்யந்தே நியதைர்ஜநை: ॥
nārājakē janapadē mālyamōdakadakṣiṇāḥ ।
dēvatābhyarcanārthāya kalpyantē niyatairjanaiḥ ॥
In a country without a King,
devout people would not bring
flowers, sweets and offerings
for the worship of Dēvatas.
2.67.28 நாராஜகே ஜநபதே சந்தநாகருரூஷிதா: ।
ராஜபுத்ரா விராஜந்தே வஸந்த இவ ஸாகிந: ॥
nārājakē janapadē candanāgarurūṣitāḥ ।
rājaputrā virājantē vasanta iva ṡākhinaḥ ॥
In a country without a King,
young princes wearing sandal and Agaru perfumes
would not glow like trees in spring.
2.67.29 யதா ஹ்யநுதகா நத்ய: யதா வாऽப்யத்ருணம் வநம் ।
அகோபாலா யதா காவஸ்ததா ராஷ்ட்ரமராஜகம் ॥
yathā hyanudakā nadyaḥ yathā vā'pyatṛṇaṃ vanam ।
agōpālā yathā gāvastathā rāṣṭramarājakam ॥
A realm without a king is like
rivers without water, woods without grass
and cows without herdsmen!
2.66.30 த்வஜோ ரதஸ்ய ப்ரஜ்ஞாநம் தூமோ ஜ்ஞாநம் விபாவஸோ: ।
தேஷாம் யோ நோ த்வஜோ ராஜா ஸ தேவத்வமிதோ கத: ॥
dhvajō rathasya prajñānaṃ dhūmō jñānaṃ vibhāvasōḥ ।
tēṣāṃ yō nō dhvajō rājā sa dēvatvamitō gataḥ ॥
Just as a flag serves as a symbol of a chariot,
and smoke serves as an indication of fire,
the king used to represent us like a flag does;
but now, he has ascended to the heaven. Smoke used to be an important part of the people’s lives in many ways in the past, and in villages even today.
Smoke rises above the tree line of the horizon and indicates the presence of fire, which in turn indicates the presence of people.
If smoke does not rise from any house at the expected hour in a village, people become concerned, as it is an indication of things not being normal in that house.
2.67.31 நாராஜகே ஜநபதே ஸ்வகம் பவதி கஸ்யசித் ।
மத்ஸ்யா இவ நரா நித்யம் பக்ஷயந்தி பரஸ்பரம் ॥
nārājakē janapadē svakaṃ bhavati kasyacit ।
matsyā iva narā nityaṃ bhakṣayanti parasparam ॥
In a country without a King,
no one can lay claim to anything as his own.
People devour each other like fish eating each other. The expression ‘fish eating fish’ is similar to the expression ‘dog eats dog world’.
‘Fish eating fish’ is seen as cannibalism. Hence the expression.
2.67.32 யே ஹி ஸம்பிந்நமர்யாதா நாஸ்திகாஸ்சிந்நஸம்ஸயா: ।
தேऽபி பாவாய கல்பந்தே ராஜதண்டநிபீடிதா: ॥
yē hi sambhinnamaryādā nāstikāṡchinnasaṃṡayāḥ ।
tē'pi bhāvāya kalpantē rājadaṇḍanipīḍitāḥ ॥
Even the Nāstikas,
who break away from all customs
and are divorced from all considerations,
fall in line for fear of the rod of the King. The term Nāstika is used in modern times in a narrow sense, as equivalent of atheist. But in classical times, the term Nāstika has a broader connotation.
It refers to people who make fun of and denounce all customs, traditions, ethics, scriptures and take the position that there is no purpose or meaning to life, and consequently argue against the existence of any power beyond or the need to obey any laws or follow any order. Their position is that one must live for the moment, with no fear of consequences, propriety, righteousness, etc.
It is important to note that just like good and bad people exist at all times and in all places, Nāstikas also exist at all times and in all places.
Nature, perhaps, creates Nāstikas as a counterweight to the Āstikas, who might otherwise go to extremes and indulge in self-righteousness!
2.67.33 யதா த்ருஷ்டிஸ்ஸரீரஸ்ய நித்யமேவ ப்ரவர்ததே ।
ததா நரேந்த்ரோ ராஷ்ட்ரஸ்ய ப்ரபவஸ்ஸத்யதர்மயோ: ॥
yathā dṛṣṭiṡṡarīrasya nityamēva pravartatē ।
tathā narēndrō rāṣṭrasya prabhavassatyadharmayōḥ ॥
Just as the eye is vigilant of
(the safety and welfare of)
the body at all times,
the king is the reason for
Dharma and Truth in a kingdom.
2.67.34 ராஜா ஸத்யம் ச தர்மஸ்ச ராஜா குலவதாம் குலம் ।
ராஜா மாதா பிதா சைவ ராஜா ஹிதகரோ ந்ருணாம் ॥
rājā satyaṃ ca dharmaṡca rājā kulavatāṃ kulam ।
rājā mātā pitā caiva rājā hitakarō nṛṇām ॥
King is the truth. King is the Dharma.
King is the family for those who have a family.
King is the mother. King is the father.
King is the benefactor of all people. Poetic hyperboles like the one in Ṡlōkas 34-36 (and also in Ṡlōka 9 above) should not be taken literally. They are there to stress the point, at the risk of exaggeration.
2.67.35 யமோ வைஸ்ரவணஸ்ஸக்ர: வருணஸ்ச மஹாபல: ।
விஸேஷ்யந்தே நரேந்த்ரேண வ்ருத்தேந மஹதா தத: ॥
yamō vaiṡravaṇaṡṡakraḥ varuṇaṡca mahābalaḥ ।
viṡēṣyantē narēndrēṇa vṛttēna mahatā tataḥ ॥
Yama, Vaiṡravaṇa, Ṡakra and the mighty strong Varuna,
are excelled by a King because of the larger role he plays.
2.67.36 அஹோ தம இவேதம் ஸ்யாந்ந ப்ரஜாயேத கிஞ்சந ।
ராஜா சே ந்ந பவேல்லோகே விபஜ ஸாத்வஸாதுநீ ॥
ahō tama ivēdaṃ syānna prajāyēta kiñcana ।
rājā cē nna bhavēllōkē vibhaja sādhvasādhunī ॥
Ah, if only the King were not to
guard the line between right and wrong in this world,
everything would be wrapped in darkness
and nothing would have ever emerged.
2.67.37 ஜீவத்யபி மஹாராஜே தவைவ வசநம் வயம் ।
நாதிக்ரமாமஹே ஸர்வே வேலாம் ப்ராப்யேவ ஸாகர: ॥
jīvatyapi mahārājē tavaiva vacanaṃ vayam ।
nātikramāmahē sarvē vēlāṃ prāpyēva sāgaraḥ ॥
All of us had never transgressed your word,
like an ocean would never, its shore,
even when the king was alive.
3.67.38 ஸ நஸ்ஸமீக்ஷ்ய த்விஜவர்ய வ்ருத்தம்
ந்ருபம் விநா ராஜ்யமரண்யபூதம் ।
குமாரமிக்ஷ்வாகுஸுதம் வதாந்யம்
த்வமேவ ராஜாநமிஹாபிஷிஞ்ச ॥
sa nassamīkṣya dvijavarya vṛttaṃ
nṛpaṃ vinā rājyamaraṇyabhūtam ।
kumāramikṣvākusutaṃ vadānyaṃ
tvamēva rājānamihābhiṣiñca ॥
O best of Brāhmaṇas!
Considering what had happened,
and noting that the kingdom is now
like a jungle without the king,
you must yourself consecrate
a noble son of the Ikshwāku dynasty as the king.
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே வால்மீகீயே ஆதிகாவ்யே
அயோத்யாகாண்டே ஸப்தஷஷ்டிதமஸ்ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē
ayōdhyākāṇḍē saptaṣaṣṭitamassargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the sixty seventh Sarga
in Ayōdhyā Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Vālmeeki.