Chapter 14 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14

Valmiki Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda

Verse 14.40

यथा ह्यपालाः पशवो यथा सेना ह्यनायका। यथा चन्द्रं विना रात्रिर्यथा गावो विना वृषम्॥ एवं हि भविता राष्ट्रं यत्र राजा न दृश्यते। एवं तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सान्त्वपूर्वमिवार्थवत् ॥ अभ्यकीर्यत शोकेन भूय एव महीपतिः।

yathā hyapālāḥ paśavo yathā senā hyanāyakā| yathā candraṃ vinā rātriryathā gāvo vinā vṛṣam|| evaṃ hi bhavitā rāṣṭraṃ yatra rājā na dṛśyate| evaṃ tasya vacaḥ śrutvā sāntvapūrvamivārthavat || abhyakīryata śokena bhūya eva mahīpatiḥ|

English Meaning

Like to cattle's without their keeper, like to and army without its commander, like to a night without the moon, like to kines without their bull, is a kingdom without a king. Hearing these words of Sumantra, bland and appropriate, the lord of earth was afresh overwhelmed with grief.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)