The Brahmins' Plea to Vasishtha: A Land Without a King

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.67.1)

आक्रन्दितनिरानन्दा सास्रकण्ठजनाविला। अयोध्यायामतितता सा व्यतीयाय शर्वरी॥ २-६७-१ ॥

ākranditanirānandā sāsrakaṇṭhajanāvilā| ayodhyāyāmatitatā sā vyatīyāya śarvarī

Joyless with weeping, thronged with people whose throats were choked with tears, that long, drawn-out night at last passed over Ayodhya.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.67.2)

व्यतीतायां तु शर्वर्यामादित्यस्योदये ततः। समेत्य राजकर्तारः सभामीयुर्द्विजातयः॥ २-६७-२ ॥

vyatītāyāṃ tu śarvaryāmādityasyodaye tataḥ| sametya rājakartāraḥ sabhāmīyurdvijātayaḥ

When that night had passed, at sunrise, the Brahmins who had the right to install a king gathered together and came to the assembly hall.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.67.3)

मार्कण्डेयोऽथ मौद्गल्यो वामदेवश्च काश्यपः। कात्यायनो गौतमश्च जाबालिश्च महायशाः॥ २-६७-३ ॥

mārkaṇḍeyo'tha maudgalyo vāmadevaśca kāśyapaḥ| kātyāyano gautamaśca jābāliśca mahāyaśāḥ

Markandeya, Maudgalya, Vamadeva, Kashyapa, Katyayana, Gautama, and the greatly renowned Jabali -

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.67.4)

एते द्विजाः सहामात्यैः पृथग्वाचमुदीरयन्। वसिष्ठमेवाभिमुखाः श्रेष्ठं राजपुरोहितम्॥ २-६७-४ ॥

ete dvijāḥ sahāmātyaiḥ pṛthagvācamudīrayan| vasiṣṭhamevābhimukhāḥ śreṣṭhaṃ rājapurohitam

These Brahmins, together with the ministers, turned toward Vasishtha, the foremost of royal priests, and one by one gave voice to their thoughts.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.67.5)

अतीता शर्वरी दुःखं या नो वर्षशतोपमा। अस्मिन् पञ्चत्वमापन्ने पुत्रशोकेन पार्थिवे॥ २-६७-५ ॥

atītā śarvarī duḥkhaṃ yā no varṣaśatopamā| asmin pañcatvamāpanne putraśokena pārthive

"That night of sorrow has passed for us like a hundred years, now that this king has met his death from grief for his son."

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.67.6)

स्वर्गतश्च महाराजो रामश्चारण्यमाश्रितः। लक्ष्मणश्चापि तेजस्वी रामेणैव गतः सह॥ २-६७-६ ॥

svargataśca mahārājo rāmaścāraṇyamāśritaḥ| lakṣmaṇaścāpi tejasvī rāmeṇaiva gataḥ saha

"The great king has gone to heaven; Rama has taken refuge in the forest; and the brilliant Lakshmana too has gone along with Rama alone."

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.67.7)

उभौ भरतशत्रुघ्नौ कैकयेषु परंतपौ। पुरे राजगृहे रम्ये मातामहनिवेशने॥ २-६७-७ ॥

ubhau bharataśatrughnau kaikayeṣu parantapau| pure rājagṛhe ramye mātāmahaniveśane

"Both Bharata and Shatrughna, the scorchers of foes, are there among the Kekayas, in the lovely royal residence of their maternal grandfather in that city."

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.67.8)

इक्ष्वाकूणामिहाद्यैव कश्चिद्राजा विधीयताम्। अराजकं हि नो राष्ट्रं न विनाशमवाप्नुयात्॥ २-६७-८ ॥

ikṣvākūṇāmihādyaiva kaścidrājā vidhīyatām| arājakaṃ hi no rāṣṭraṃ na vināśamavāpnuyāt

"Let someone from the Ikshvaku line be made king here this very day, lest our kingdom, being kingless, should come to ruin."

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.67.9)

नाराजके जनपदे विद्युन्माली महास्वनः। अभिवर्षति पर्जन्यो महीं दिव्येन वारिणा॥ २-६७-९ ॥

nārājake janapade vidyunmālī mahāsvanaḥ| abhivarṣati parjanyo mahīṃ divyena vāriṇā

"In a kingless land, the thunderclouds, garlanded with lightning and roaring loud, do not shower the earth with their heavenly rain."

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.67.10)

नाराजके जनपदे बीजमुष्टिः प्रकीर्यते। नाराजके पितुः पुत्रो भार्या वा वर्तते वशे॥ २-६७-१० ॥

nārājake janapade bījamuṣṭiḥ prakīryate| nārājake pituḥ putro bhāryā vā vartate vaśe

"In a kingless land, not even a handful of seed is sown; in a kingless land, neither son remains under his father's control, nor wife under her husband's."

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.67.11)

अराजके धनं नास्ति नास्ति भार्याप्यराजके। इदमत्याहितं चान्यत् कुतः सत्यमराजके॥ २-६७-११ ॥

arājake dhanaṃ nāsti nāsti bhāryāpyarājake| idamatyāhitaṃ cānyat kutaḥ satyamarājake

"Where there is no king, there is no wealth; where there is no king, there is not even a faithful wife. And there is worse still - where there is no king, where indeed can truth be found?"

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.67.12)

नाराजके जनपदे कारयन्ति सभां नराः। उद्यानानि च रम्याणि हृष्टाः पुण्यगृहाणि च॥ २-६७-१२ ॥

nārājake janapade kārayanti sabhāṃ narāḥ| udyānāni ca ramyāṇi hṛṣṭāḥ puṇyagṛhāṇi ca

"In a kingless land, people no longer build, in gladness, their assembly halls, their lovely gardens, or their sacred temples."

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.67.13)

नाराजके जनपदे यज्ञशीला द्विजातयः। सत्राण्यन्वासते दान्ता ब्राह्मणाः संशितव्रताः॥ २-६७-१३ ॥

nārājake janapade yajñaśīlā dvijātayaḥ| satrāṇyanvāsate dāntā brāhmaṇāḥ saṃśitavratāḥ

"In a kingless land, Brahmins habituated to sacrifice, self-controlled and holding to strict vows, no longer sit through the long sacrificial sessions."

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.67.14)

नाराजके जनपदे महायज्ञेषु यज्वनः। ब्राह्मणा वसुसंपन्ना विसृजन्त्याप्तदक्षिणाः॥ २-६७-१४ ॥

nārājake janapade mahāyajñeṣu yajvanaḥ| brāhmaṇā vasusaṃpannā visṛjantyāptadakṣiṇāḥ

"In a kingless land, sacrificers wealthy enough for great sacrifices, and the Brahmins who officiate at them, no longer complete their rites and bestow the proper fees."

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.67.15)

नाराजके जनपदे प्रभूतनटनर्तकाः। उत्सवाश्च समाजाश्च वर्धन्ते राष्ट्रवर्धनाः॥ २-६७-१५ ॥

nārājake janapade prabhūtanaṭanartakāḥ| utsavāśca samājāśca vardhante rāṣṭravardhanāḥ

"In a kingless land, the festivals and gatherings that swell with actors and dancers, and that enrich a nation, no longer flourish."

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.67.16)

नाराजके जनपदे सिद्धार्था व्यवहारिणः। कथाभिरनुरज्यन्ते कथाशीलाः कथाप्रियैः॥ २-६७-१६ ॥

nārājake janapade siddhārthā vyavahāriṇaḥ| kathābhiranurajyante kathāśīlāḥ kathāpriyaiḥ

"In a kingless land, litigants no longer see their disputes resolved, and those skilled in telling tales no longer delight story-lovers with their stories."

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.67.17)

नाराजके जनपदे उद्यानानि समागताः। सायाह्ने क्रीडितुं यान्ति कुमार्यो हेमभूषिताः॥ २-६७-१७ ॥

nārājake janapade udyānāni samāgatāḥ| sāyāhne krīḍituṃ yānti kumāryo hemabhūṣitāḥ

"In a kingless land, maidens adorned in gold no longer gather together and go out to the gardens to play in the evening."

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.67.18)

नाराजके जनपदे वाहनैः शीघ्रगामिभिः। नरा निर्यान्त्यरण्यानि नारीभिः सह कामिनः॥ २-६७-१८ ॥

nārājake janapade vāhanaiḥ śīghragāmibhiḥ| narā niryāntyaraṇyāni nārībhiḥ saha kāminaḥ

"In a kingless land, amorous men no longer ride out to the woodlands with their women in swift-moving carriages."

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.67.19)

नाराजके जनपदे धनवन्तः सुरक्षिताः। शेरते विवृतद्वाराः कृषिगोरक्षजीविनः॥ २-६७-१९ ॥

nārājake janapade dhanavantaḥ surakṣitāḥ| śerate vivṛtadvārāḥ kṛṣigorakṣajīvinaḥ

"In a kingless land, the wealthy who live by farming and cattle-herding no longer sleep secure with their doors left open."

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.67.20)

नाराजके जनपदे बद्धघण्टा विषाणिनः। आटन्ति राजमार्गेषु कुञ्जराः षष्टिहायनाः॥ २-६७-२० ॥

nārājake janapade baddhaghaṇṭā viṣāṇinaḥ| āṭanti rājamārgeṣu kuñjarāḥ ṣaṣṭihāyanāḥ

"In a kingless land, sixty-year-old tuskers, bells tied to their tusks, no longer roam the royal highways."

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.67.21)

नाराजके जनपदे शरान् सततमस्यताम्। श्रूयते तलनिर्घोषो इष्वस्त्राणामुपासने॥ २-६७-२१ ॥

nārājake janapade śarān satatamasyatām| śrūyate talanirghoṣo iṣvastrāṇāmupāsane

"In a kingless land, the slap of the bowstring against the palm, made by archers ceaselessly loosing their arrows in practice, is no longer heard."

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.67.22)

नाराजके जनपदे वणिजो दूरगामिनः। गच्छन्ति क्षेममध्वानं बहुपुण्यसमाचिताः॥ २-६७-२२ ॥

nārājake janapade vaṇijo dūragāminaḥ| gacchanti kṣemamadhvānaṃ bahupuṇyasamācitāḥ

"In a kingless land, merchants bound for distant places, laden with much merit and much merchandise, can no longer travel their road in safety."

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.67.23)

नाराजके जनपदे चरत्येकचरो वशी। भावयन्नात्मनात्मानं यत्र सायंगृहो मुनिः॥ २-६७-२३ ॥

nārājake janapade caratyekacaro vaśī| bhāvayannātmanātmānaṃ yatra sāyaṃgṛho muniḥ

"In a kingless land, the lone-wandering, self-mastered sage, who meditates upon the self with the self and makes his home wherever evening finds him, no longer roams about."

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.67.24)

नाराजके जनपदे योगक्षेमं प्रवर्तते। न चाप्यराजके सेना शत्रून् विषहते युधि॥ २-६७-२४ ॥

nārājake janapade yogakṣemaṃ pravartate| na cāpyarājake senā śatrūn viṣahate yudhi

"In a kingless land, neither security nor prosperity can be sustained; nor, kingless, can an army withstand its enemies in battle."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.67.25)

नाराजके जनपदे हृष्टैः परमवाजिभिः। नराः संयान्ति सहसा रथैश्च परिमण्डिताः॥ २-६७-२५ ॥

nārājake janapade hṛṣṭaiḥ paramavājibhiḥ| narāḥ saṃyānti sahasā rathaiśca parimaṇḍitāḥ

"In a kingless land, people no longer ride out joyfully at speed upon fine, spirited horses or in richly ornamented chariots."

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.67.26)

नाराजके जनपदे नराः शास्त्रविशारदाः। संपदन्तोऽवतिष्ठन्ते वनेषूपवनेषु च॥ २-६७-२६ ॥

nārājake janapade narāḥ śāstraviśāradāḥ| saṃpadanto'vatiṣṭhante vaneṣūpavaneṣu ca

"In a kingless land, men learned in the sacred treatises no longer settle down to prosper in the forests and groves."

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.67.27)

नाराजके जनपदे माल्यमोदकदक्षिणाः। देवताभ्यर्चनार्थं कल्प्यन्ते नियतैर्जनैः॥ २-६७-२७ ॥

nārājake janapade mālyamodakadakṣiṇāḥ| devatābhyarcanārthaṃ kalpyante niyatairjanaiḥ

"In a kingless land, disciplined people no longer prepare garlands, sweetmeats, and offerings for the worship of the gods."

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.67.28)

नाराजके जनपदे चन्दनागुरुरूषिताः। राजपुत्रा विराजन्ते वसन्ते इव शाखिनः॥ २-६७-२८ ॥

nārājake janapade candanāgururūṣitāḥ| rājaputrā virājante vasante iva śākhinaḥ

"In a kingless land, princes anointed with sandal and aloe-wood paste no longer shine forth like trees in the season of spring."

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.67.29)

यथा ह्यनुदका नद्यो यथा वाप्यतृणं वनम्। अगोपाला यथा गावस्तथा राष्ट्रमराजकम्॥ २-६७-२९ ॥

yathā hyanudakā nadyo yathā vāpyatṛṇaṃ vanam| agopālā yathā gāvastathā rāṣṭramarājakam

"As rivers without water, as a forest without grass, as cattle without a herdsman - so is a kingdom without a king."

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.67.30)

ध्वजो रथस्य प्रज्ञानं धूमो ज्ञानं विभावसोः। तेषां यो नो ध्वजो राजा स देवत्वमितो गतः॥ २-६७-३० ॥

dhvajo rathasya prajñānaṃ dhūmo jñānaṃ vibhāvasoḥ| teṣāṃ yo no dhvajo rājā sa devatvamito gataḥ

"A banner marks out a chariot; smoke marks out a fire. That king who was our banner among all such signs has now departed from here into godhood."

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.67.31)

नाराजके जनपदे स्वकं भवति कस्यचित्। मत्स्या इव नरा नित्यं भक्षयन्ति परस्परम्॥ २-६७-३१ ॥

nārājake janapade svakaṃ bhavati kasyacit| matsyā iva narā nityaṃ bhakṣayanti parasparam

"In a kingless land, nothing belongs securely to anyone; like fish, people continually devour one another."

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.67.32)

ये हि संभिन्नमर्यादा नास्तिकाश्चिह्नसंशयाः। तेऽपि भावाय कल्पन्ते राजदण्डनिपीडिताः॥ २-६७-३२ ॥

ye hi saṃbhinnamaryādā nāstikāścihnasaṃśayāḥ| te'pi bhāvāya kalpante rājadaṇḍanipīḍitāḥ

"Even those who have broken every bound, the unbelievers marked by doubt - even they, restrained under the king's rod of punishment, are brought to good conduct."

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.67.33)

यथा दृष्टिः शरीरस्य नित्यमेव प्रवर्तते। तथा नरेन्द्रो राष्ट्रस्य प्रभवः सत्यधर्मयोः॥ २-६७-३३ ॥

yathā dṛṣṭiḥ śarīrasya nityameva pravartate| tathā narendro rāṣṭrasya prabhavaḥ satyadharmayoḥ

"As eyesight is ever active in guiding the body, so is the king, for his kingdom, the very source of truth and righteousness."

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.67.34)

राजा सत्यं च धर्मश्च राजा कुलवतां कुलम्। राजा माता पिता चैव राजा हितकरो नृणाम्॥ २-६७-३४ ॥

rājā satyaṃ ca dharmaśca rājā kulavatāṃ kulam| rājā mātā pitā caiva rājā hitakaro nṛṇām

"The king is truth, and the king is righteousness; the king is the honour of noble families. The king is mother, and the king is father; the king is the benefactor of all people."

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.67.35)

यमो वैश्रवणः शक्रो वरुणश्च महाबलः। विशेष्यन्ते नरेन्द्रेण वृत्तेन महता ततः॥ २-६७-३५ ॥

yamo vaiśravaṇaḥ śakro varuṇaśca mahābalaḥ| viśeṣyante narendreṇa vṛttena mahatā tataḥ

"Yama, Vaishravana, Shakra, and mighty Varuna - even these are distinguished, in turn, by the great conduct of a lord among men."

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.67.36)

अहो तमसैवेदं स्यान्न प्रज्ञायेत किंचन। राजा चेन्न भवेल्लोके विभजन् साध्वसाधुनी॥ २-६७-३६ ॥

aho tamasaivedaṃ syānna prajñāyeta kiṃcana| rājā cenna bhavelloke vibhajan sādhvasādhunī

"Alas, were there no king in the world to distinguish good from evil, this world would become sheer darkness, and nothing at all would be discerned."

Shloka 37 (ayodhya.67.37)

जीवत्यपि महाराजे तवैव वचनं वयम्। नातिक्रमामहे सर्वे वेलां प्राप्येव सागरः॥ २-६७-३७ ॥

jīvatyapi mahārāje tavaiva vacanaṃ vayam| nātikramāmahe sarve velāṃ prāpyeva sāgaraḥ

"Even while the great king lived, we all held to your word alone and never transgressed it, just as the ocean, having reached its shore, never crosses it."

Shloka 38 (ayodhya.67.38)

स नः समीक्ष्य द्विजवर्य वृत्तं नृपं विना राज्यमरण्यभूतम्। कुमारमिक्ष्वाकुसुतं वदान्यं त्वमेव राजानमिहाभिषेचय॥ २-६७-३८ ॥

sa naḥ samīkṣya dvijavarya vṛttaṃ nṛpaṃ vinā rājyamaraṇyabhūtam| kumāramikṣvākusutaṃ vadānyaṃ tvameva rājānamihābhiṣecaya

"Seeing this state of ours, O foremost of Brahmins - a kingdom without a king become like a wilderness - do you yourself now consecrate as king here some generous young prince born of the Ikshvaku line."