← 2.61.14 · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 61: Ayodhyā without a King · 2.61.16 →

Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.61.15

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

2.61.15

nārājake janapade vāhanaiḥ śīghragāmibhiḥ
narā niryānty araṇyāni nārībhiḥ saha kāminaḥ

In a kingless land amorous men do not ride out to the forests with their women in swift-moving vehicles.

Words: nārājake — not in a kingless (land); janapade — land; vāhanaiḥ — with vehicles; śīghragāmibhiḥ — swift-moving; narā — men; niryānty — go out; araṇyāni — to the forests; nārībhiḥ — with women; saha — together; kāminaḥ — amorous, lovers

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. 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.