Chapter 67 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 67

Valmiki Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda

Verse 67.24

यथा ह्यनुदका नद्यो यथा वाप्यतृणं वनम्। अगोपाला यथा गावस्तथा राष्ट्रमराजकम्॥

yathā hyanudakā nadyo yathā vāpyatṛṇaṃ vanam| agopālā yathā gāvastathā rāṣṭramarājakam||

English Meaning

Even as a river without water, a wood without grass, a herd of kine without a keeper, is a kingdom without a king.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)