Brahmins Urge Vasishta to Select a Youth to be the King

आक्रन्दितनिरानन्दा सास्रकम्ठजनाविला | आयोध्यायामतितता सा व्यतीयाय शर्वरी || २-६७-१

aakranditaniraanandaa saasrakamThajanaavilaa | aayodhyaayaamatitataa saa vyatiiyaaya sharvarii || 2-67-1

That night in Ayodhya, which was joyless in a weeping tone and thronged with people with tears in their throats, slowly passed over.

व्यतीतायाम् तु शर्वर्याम् आदित्यस्य उदये ततः | समेत्य राज कर्तारः सभाम् ईयुर् द्विजातयः || २-६७-२

vyatiitaayaam tu sharvaryaam aadityasya udaye tataH | sametya raaja kartaaraH sabhaam iiyur dvijaatayaH || 2-67-2

At sunrise, when the night had passed over, the Brahmins who place a king on the throne, together gathered at the assembly.

मार्कण्डेयो अथ मौद्गल्यो वामदेवः च काश्यपः | कात्ययनो गौतमः च जाबालिः च महा यशाः || २-६७-३ एते द्विजाः सह अमात्यैः पृथग् वाचम् उदीरयन् | वसिष्ठम् एव अभिमुखाः श्रेष्ठः राज पुरोहितम् || २-६७-४

maarkaNDeyo atha maudgalyo vaamadevaH ca kaashyapaH | kaatyayano gautamaH ca jaabaaliH ca mahaa yashaaH || 2-67-3 ete dvijaaH saha amaatyaiH pR^ithag vaacam udiirayan | vasiShTham eva abhimukhaaH shreShThaH raaja purohitam || 2-67-4

Markandeya, Moudgalya, Vamadeva, Kasyapa,Katyayana, Goutama and the greatly famous Jabali-all these Brahmans together with the ministers turned towards the excellent royal priest Vasishta and one by one spoke as follows:

अतीता शर्वरी दुह्खम् या नो वर्ष शत उपमा | अस्मिन् पन्चत्वम् आपन्ने पुत्र शोकेन पार्थिवे || २-६७-५

svar gataH ca mahaa raajo raamaH ca araNyam aashritaH | lakShmaNaH ca api tejasvii raameNa eva gataH saha || 2-67-6

"King Dasaratha having obtained death due to grief born of separation from his sons (Rama and Lakshmana), the night which burdened like a hundred years, has passed over with great difficulty."

स्वर् गतः च महा राजो रामः च अरण्यम् आश्रितः | लक्ष्मणः च अपि तेजस्वी रामेण एव गतः सह || २-६७-६

ubhau bharata shatrughnau kkekayeShu param tapau | pure raaja gR^ihe ramye maataamaha niveshane || 2-67-7

"The monarch has gone to heaven. Rama took retreat in a forest. The brilliant Lakshmana followed suit and went along with Rama."

उभौ भरत शत्रुघ्नौ क्केकयेषु परम् तपौ | पुरे राज गृहे रम्ये मातामह निवेशने || २-६७-७

ikShvaakuuNaam iha adya eva kashcit raajaa vidhiiyataam | araajakam hi no raaShTram na vinaasham avaapnuyaat || 2-67-8

"Both Bharata and Satrughna, the annihilator of enemies, are encamped in the beautiful house of their maternal uncle in the city of Rajagriha in the kingdom of Kekaya."

इक्ष्वाकूणाम् इह अद्य एव कश्चित् राजा विधीयताम् | अराजकम् हि नो राष्ट्रम् न विनाशम् अवाप्नुयात् || २-६७-८

na araajale jana pade vidyun maalii mahaa svanaH | abhivarShati parjanyo mahiim divyena vaariNaa || 2-67-9

"Hence, let anyone here in Ikshvaku dynasty be made a king today itself lest our nation without a king should result in a collapse indeed."

न अराजले जन पदे विद्युन् माली महा स्वनः | अभिवर्षति पर्जन्यो महीम् दिव्येन वारिणा || २-६७-९

na araajake jana pade biija muShTiH prakiiryate | na araakake pituH putraH bhaaryaa vaa vartate vashe || 2-67-10

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

न अराजके जन पदे बीज मुष्टिः प्रकीर्यते | न अराकके पितुः पुत्रः भार्या वा वर्तते वशे || २-६७-१०

araajake dhanam na asti na asti bhaaryaa api araajake | idam atyaahitam ca anyat kutaH satyam araajake || 2-67-11

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

अराजके धनम् न अस्ति न अस्ति भार्या अपि अराजके | इदम् अत्याहितम् च अन्यत् कुतः सत्यम् अराजके || २-६७-११

na araajake jana pade kaarayanti sabhaam naraaH | udyaanaani ca ramyaaNi hR^iShTaaH puNya gR^ihaaNi ca || 2-67-12

"In a rulerless land, there is no wealth. Where there is no king, there is no (faithful) wife. Another very dangerous thing is there. In a ruler less territory, how can there be truth? "

न अराजके जन पदे कारयन्ति सभाम् नराः | उद्यानानि च रम्याणि हृष्टाः पुण्य गृहाणि च || २-६७-१२

na araajake jana pade yaGYa shiilaa dvijaatayaH | satraaNi anvaasate daantaa braahmaNaaH sa.nshita vrataaH || 2-67-13

"In a ruler- less country, people do not cause to make a delightful assembly nor erect beautiful parks or temples."

न अराजके जन पदे यज्ञ शीला द्विजातयः | सत्राणि अन्वासते दान्ता ब्राह्मणाः संशित व्रताः || २-६७-१३

na araajake janapade mahaayajJNeShu yajvanaH | braahmaNaa vasusampannaa visR^ijantyaaptadakshiNaaH || 2-67-14

"In a ruler- less territory, those who frequently perform sacrificial rites, those who have self-restraint, those who firmly adhere to a vow as well as Brahmins do not carry out Soma sacrifices."

न अराजके जनपदे महायज्ञेषु यज्वनः | ब्राह्मणा वसुसम्पन्ना विसृजन्त्याप्तदक्षिणाः || २-६७-१४

na araajake jana pade prabhuuta naTa nartakaaH | utsavaaH ca samaajaaH ca vardhante raaShTra vardhanaaH || 2-67-15

"In a rulerless land, Brahmans who obtained wealth and sacrificers in great sacrificial rites do not bestow proper gifts"

न अराजके जन पदे प्रभूत नट नर्तकाः | उत्सवाः च समाजाः च वर्धन्ते राष्ट्र वर्धनाः || २-६७-१५

na arajake jana pade siddha arthaa vyavahaariNaH | kathaabhir anurajyante kathaa shiilaaH kathaa priyaiH || 2-67-16

"In a ruler- less territory, festivals and gatherings exalting the kingdom in which actors, and dancers exhibit their talents are not frequently arranged"

न अरजके जन पदे सिद्ध अर्था व्यवहारिणः | कथाभिर् अनुरज्यन्ते कथा शीलाः कथा प्रियैः || २-६७-१६

na araajake janapade udyaanaani samaagataaH | saayaahne kriiDitum yaanti kumaaryo hemabhuuShitaaH || 2-67-17

"In a ruler less land, litigants do not get their disputes settled and persons who have a knack for narrating stories do not gratify story- lovers with their tales."

न अराजके जनपदे उद्यानानि समागताः | सायाह्ने क्रीडितुम् यान्ति कुमार्यो हेमभूषिताः || २-६७-१७

na araajake jana pade vaahanaiH shiighra gaamibhiH | naraa niryaanti araNyaani naariibhiH saha kaaminaH || 2-67-18

"In a ruler less territory, girls adorned in gold do not go together to parks to play there in the evening."

न अराजके जन पदे वाहनैः शीघ्र गामिभिः | नरा निर्यान्ति अरण्यानि नारीभिः सह कामिनः || २-६७-१८

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

"In a lord less land, lustful men do not go out to woods with ladies in speedily moving vehicles"

न अराकजे जन पदे धनवन्तः सुरक्षिताः | शेरते विवृत द्वाराः कृषि गो रक्ष जीविनः || २-६७-१९

na araajake janapade baddaghaNTaa viShaaNInaH | aaTanti raajamaargeShu kuJNjaraaH ShaShTihaayanaaH || 2-67-20

"In a lord less land, rich people living on agriculture and cattle rearing do not sleep in their abodes well protected, with their doors open"

न अराजके जनपदे बद्दघण्टा विषाणीनः | आटन्ति राजमार्गेषु कुञ्जराः षष्टिहायनाः || २-६७-२०

na araajake janapade sharaan samtatamasyataam | shruuyate talanirghoSha iShvastraaNaamupaasane || 2-67-21

"In a land without emperor, sixty year old elephants with bells tied around their tusks, do not roam around on royal high ways

न अराजके जनपदे शरान् सम्ततमस्यताम् | श्रूयते तलनिर्घोष इष्वस्त्राणामुपासने || २-६७-२१

na araajake jana pade vaNijo duura gaaminaH | gacchanti kShemam adhvaanam bahu puNya samaacitaaH || 2-67-22

"In a ruler less land, the noise of plucking the bow string with the palm, produced by archers continuously discharging arrows while practicing the use of their bows, is not heard."

न अराजके जन पदे वणिजो दूर गामिनः | गच्चन्ति क्षेमम् अध्वानम् बहु पुण्य समाचिताः || २-६७-२२

na araajake jana pade carati eka caraH vashii | bhaavayann aatmanaa aatmaanam yatra saayam gR^iho muniH || 2-67-23

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

न अराजके जन पदे चरति एक चरः वशी | भावयन्न् आत्मना आत्मानम् यत्र सायम् गृहो मुनिः || २-६७-२३

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

"In a rulerless land, a monk who wanders alone, who has subdued his senses, who mediates himself on the soul and who takes up an abode wherever evening overtakes him, cannot roam around the city."

न अराजके जन पदे योग क्षेमम् प्रवर्तते | न च अपि अराजके सेना शत्रून् विषहते युधि || २-६७-२४

na araajake janapade hR^iShTaiH paramavaajibhiH | naraaH samyaanti sahasaa rathaishca parimaNDitaaH || 2-67-25

"In a rulerless land; gain and security are not duly established. In anarchy, army cannot conquer enemies in battle."

न अराजके जनपदे हृष्टैः परमवाजिभिः | नराः सम्यान्ति सहसा रथैश्च परिमण्डिताः || २-६७-२५

na araajake janapade naraaH shaastravishaaradaaH | sampadanto.avatiShThante vaneShuupavaneShu ca || 2-67-26

"In a rulerless land, people beautifully adorned, cannot go fast cheerfully in excellent horses and chariots."

न अराजके जनपदे नराः शास्त्रविशारदाः | सम्पदन्तोऽवतिष्ठन्ते वनेषूपवनेषु च || २-६७-२६

na araajake janapade maalyamodakadakshiNaaH | devataabhyarcanaarthaya kalpyante niyatairjanaiH || 2-67-27

"In a rulerless land, persons skilled in sacred treatises cannot sit speaking together in forests and groves."

न अराजके जनपदे माल्यमोदकदक्षिणाः | देवताभ्यर्चनार्थय कल्प्यन्ते नियतैर्जनैः || २-६७-२७

na araajake janapade candanaagururuuShitaaH | raajaputraa viraajante vasanta iva shaakhinaH || 2-67-28

"In a rulerless land, floral garlands, sweet-meats and gifts for the sake of offering to the deities, are not arranged by the appointed persons."

न अराजके जनपदे चन्दनागुरुरूषिताः | राजपुत्रा विराजन्ते वसन्त इव शाखिनः || २-६७-२८

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

"In a rulerless land, royal princes smeared with paste of sandal and aloe-wood do not figure brilliantly like trees in a spring time."

यथा हि अनुदका नद्यो यथा वा अपि अतृणम् वनम् | अगोपाला यथा गावः तथा राष्ट्रम् अराजकम् || २-६७-२९

dhvajo rathasya prajJNaanam dhuumo jJNaanam vibhaavasoH | teShaam yo no dhvajo raaja sa devatvamito gataH || 2-67-30

"A rulerless country is like the water less rivers, like the lawn less garden and like the cowherd less cows."

ध्वजो रथस्य प्रज्ञानम् धूमो ज्ञानम् विभावसोः | तेषाम् यो नो ध्वजो राज स देवत्वमितो गतः || २-६७-३०

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

"A flag is an identity for a chariot. A smoke is an identity for a fire. King Dasaratha, like a flag, was an identity for us and he has left the world for a heavenly abode."

न अराजके जन पदे स्वकम् भवति कस्यचित् | मत्स्याइव नरा नित्यम् भक्षयन्ति परस्परम् || २-६७-३१

yehi sambhinna maryaadaa naastikaaH chinna sa.nshayaaH | te api bhaavaaya kalpante raaja daNDa nipiiDitaaH || 2-67-32

"In a rulerless land, there is no one's own property for any one. Like fishes, persons always eat away each other."

येहि सम्भिन्न मर्यादा नास्तिकाः चिन्न संशयाः | ते अपि भावाय कल्पन्ते राज दण्ड निपीडिताः || २-६७-३२

yathaa dR^iShTiH shariirasya nityamevapravartate | tathaa narendro raaShTrasya prabhavaH satyadharmayoH || 2-67-33

"The atheists, who were separated from their right path and who had been tormented; with punishment earlier by the king, are now without fear and are able to exercise their old temperament (due to anarchy)"

यथा दृष्टिः शरीरस्य नित्यमेवप्रवर्तते | तथा नरेन्द्रो राष्ट्रस्य प्रभवः सत्यधर्मयोः || २-६७-३३

raajaa satyam ca dharmashca raajaa kulavataam kulam | raajaa maataa pitaa chaiva raajaa hitakaro nR^iNaam || 2-67-34

"As the eye sight is helpful regularly for a proper setting -in-motion of the body, so also a king is the cause of existence for truth and righteousness of a country."

राजा सत्यम् च धर्मश्च राजा कुलवताम् कुलम् | राजा माता पिता चैव राजा हितकरो नृणाम् || २-६७-३४

yamo vaishravaNaH shakro varuNashca mahaabalaH | visheShyante narendreNa vR^ittena mahaataa tataH || 2-67-35

"The king is truthfulness and righteousness personified in him. In a race, he belongs to a noble family. The king is a mother and a father. The king is a benefactor to people."

यमो वैश्रवणः शक्रो वरुणश्च महाबलः | विशेष्यन्ते नरेन्द्रेण वृत्तेन महाता ततः || २-६७-३५

aho tamaiva idam syaan na praGYaayeta ki.ncana | raajaa cen na bhaven loke vibhajan saadhv asaadhunii || 2-67-36

"Hence, Yama (the god of Death); Kubera (the god of riches), Indra (the ruler of celestials) and the very mighty Varuna (the Lord of Waters) are outstretched by the a high and eminent conduct."

अहो तमैव इदम् स्यान् न प्रज्ञायेत किंचन | राजा चेन् न भवेन् लोके विभजन् साध्व् असाधुनी || २-६७-३६

jiivati api mahaa raaje tava eva vacanam vayam | na atikramaamahe sarve velaam praapya iva saagaraH || 2-67-37

"Alas! If a king is not there in the world, with his power of discrimination between good and evil, this world will be dark and nothing will be clearly perceived."

जीवति अपि महा राजे तव एव वचनम् वयम् | न अतिक्रमामहे सर्वे वेलाम् प्राप्य इव सागरः || २-६७-३७

sa naH samiikShya dvija varya vR^ittam | nR^ipam vinaa raajyam araNya bhuutam | kumaaram ikShvaaku sutam vadaanyam | tvam eva raajaanam iha abhiShincaya || 2-67-38

"Even when the emperor was alive, we all of us did not transgress your words, only any more than an ocean transgresses its coast."

स नः समीक्ष्य द्विज वर्य वृत्तम् | नृपम् विना राज्यम् अरण्य भूतम् | कुमारम् इक्ष्वाकु सुतम् वदान्यम् | त्वम् एव राजानम् इह अभिषिन्चय || २-६७-३८

"O, the excellent Brahmana! After renewing the circumstances here and seeing that the kingdom is becoming a jungle without a king, you yourself anoint a youth born in Ikshvaku race or anyone here as a king."