ABSENCE OF A RULER- ARAAJAKAM-अराजकं

SUBHASHITHANI:247
After the demise of Dasaratha, and with Rama and Lakshmana having gone to the forest, and with Bharata and Shatrugna also away at uncle's place, Ayodhya was with out a king. Wise men from the royal court went to kula guru Vasishta and requested him to appoint a king immediately. What would happen to a country without a ruler is explained in a series of extraordinary slokas, some of which we will see in this blog.

इक्ष्वाकूणामिहाद्यैव कश्चिद्राजा विधीयताम्।
अराजकं हि नो राष्ट्रं विनाशं समवाप्नुयात्।।2.67.8।।
ikShvaakuuNaam iha adya eva kashcit raajaa vidhiiyataam |

araajakam hi no raaShTram  vinaasham samavaapnuyaat || 2-67-8

Therefore, let someone from the race of Ikshvakus be appointed king right now. 

since without a king, the country will be destroyed.
यथा ह्यनुदका नद्यः यथा वाऽप्यतृणं वनम्।

अगोपाला यथा गावस्तथा राष्ट्रमराजकम्।।2.67.29।।

yathaa hi anudakaa nadyo yathaa vaa api atR^iNam vanam |
agopaalaa yathaa gaavaH tathaa raaShTram araajakam || 2-67-29

"A rulerless country is like rivers without water, forests without vegetation and 

cows without cowherds. 

नाराजके जनपदे स्वकं भवति कस्यचित्।
मत्स्या इव नरा नित्यं भक्षयन्ति परस्परम्।।2.67.31।।

na araajake jana pade svakam bhavati kasyacit |
matsyaaiva naraa nityam bhakShayanti parasparam || 2-67-31

In a country where there is no king, no one can own anything and, like fish,people devour one another ceaselessly.
नाराजके जनपदे विद्युन्माली महास्वनः।

अभिवर्षति पर्जन्यो महीं दिव्येन वारिणा।।2.67.9।।

naaraajake jana pade vidyun maalii mahaa svanaH |

abhivarShati parjanyo mahiim divyena vaariNaa || 2-67-9

"Lightning clouds in the sky with a great noise of thunder, will not yield rain on the land in a country without a king."

नाराजके जनपदे बीजमुष्टिः प्रकीर्यते।
नाराजके पितुः पुत्रो भार्या वा वर्तते वशे।।2.67.10।।
na araajake jana pade biija muShTiH prakiiryate |
na araakake pituH putraH bhaaryaa vaa vartate vashe || 2-67-10

"Even a fist of seeds are not disbursed in a rulerless land. In anarchy, even a son is not amenable to the control of a father nor a wife in the authority of her husband."

नाराजके धनं चास्ति नास्ति भार्या प्यराजके।
इद मत्याहितं चान्यत्कुतस्सत्य मराजके।।2.67.11।।

araajake dhanam na asti na asti bhaaryaa api araajake |

idam atyaahitam ca anyat kutaH satyam araajake || 2-67-11

"In a rulerless land, there is no wealth creation. Family unity is affected. Also,even truth is endangered."

नाराजके जनपदे धनवन्तस्सुरक्षिताः।
शेरते विवृतद्वाराः कृषिगोरक्षजीविनः।।2.67.19।।

na araakaje jana pade dhanavantaH surakShitaaH |
sherate vivR^ita dvaaraaH kR^iShi go rakSha jiivinaH || 2-67-19

In a lordless land, rich people living on agriculture and cattle rearing 

do not sleep in their abodes well protected, with their doors open"

नाराजके जनपदे वणिजो दूरगामिनः।
गच्छन्ति क्षेममध्वानं बहुपण्यसमाचिताः।।2.67.22।।

na araajake jana pade vaNijo duura gaaminaH |

gacchanti kShemam adhvaanam bahu puNya samaacitaaH || 2-67-22

"In a rulerless land, traders who go to distant places, carrying with them several merchandises, cannot travel safely in their voyages."

नाराजके जनपदे चरत्येकचरो वशी।
भावयन्नात्मनाऽत्मानं यत्र सायंगृहो मुनिः।।2.67.23।।

na araajake jana pade carati eka caraH vashii |
bhaavayann aatmanaa aatmaanam yatra saayam gR^iho muniH ||

 In a rulerless land, a monk who wanders alone, who has subdued his senses, 

who meditates himself on the soul and who takes up an abode wherever evening overtakes him, cannot roam around the city." 2-67-23

नाराजके जनपदे योगक्षेमं प्रवर्तते।
नचाप्यराजके सेना शत्रून्विषहते युधि।।2.67.24।।

na araajake jana pade yoga kShemam pravartate |
na ca api araajake senaa shatruun viShahate yudhi || 2-67-24

In a country without a king, there is no security of possessions and 

the army cannot withstand the enemy in a battle.
( All the above slokas are from Valmiki Ramyana )

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH