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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.61.14

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 61: Ayodhyā without a King. Ministers warn that food production, worship, trade and protection will fail without a ruler and ask Vasiṣṭha to arrange succession

In the sequence: they explain what they fear without a King: neglected agriculture and public works, interrupted sacrifices and festivals, unsafe travel and trade, insecurity at home, and a weakened army

2.61.14

nārajake janapade siddhārthā vyavahāriṇaḥ
kathābhir anurajyante kathāśīlāḥ kathāpriyaiḥ

In a kingless land men of affairs, successful in their aims and fond of stories, do not take delight in tales shared with fellow lovers of tales.

Words: nārajake — not in a kingless (land); janapade — land; siddhārthā — successful in their aims; vyavahāriṇaḥ — men of affairs, litigants; kathābhir — with tales; anurajyante — take delight, are gladdened; kathāśīlāḥ — fond of stories; kathāpriyaiḥ — with lovers of stories

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.