Chapter 67 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 67

Valmiki Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda

Verse 67.26

नाराजके जनपदे स्वकं भवति कस्यचित्। मत्स्या इव जना नित्यं भक्षयन्ति परस्परम्॥

nārājake janapade svakaṃ bhavati kasyacit| matsyā iva janā nityaṃ bhakṣayanti parasparam||

English Meaning

In a kingless country a person hardly preserves his life; and like fishes people eat up one another.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)