Ramayana explains how Anarchy can destroy a nation

Ayush Nadimpalli

 

Our ancient Rishis covered various aspects of governance. This is covered elaborately in the book Political Thoughts in the Vedas.

The Kaschit sarga of the Ramayana is a treatise on political science and duties of a ruler. This is the chapter in which Bharata comes to Sri Rama to request him to come back to Ayodhya. Sri Rama ofcourse refuses to come back before completing 14 years of Vanvaas.  However, he talks to Bharata on a number of issues. Prior to this, Bharata was asked to govern Ayodhya. The Rishis,  Markandeya, Moudgalya, Vamadeva, Kasyapa, Katyayana, Goutama and Jabali- together speak to Vasishta on the dangers of Arājakata, i.e.,  anarchy and the ill-effects it has on society.

Sri Rama advising Bharata on duties of a ruler

In the current state of society, it is worth reading the same. The country must make a choice to have a strong, visionary and effective leaders rather than propping up those who make mileage out of anarchy and disorder.

The ill-effects of Anarchy as per Ramayana

न अराजके जन पदे प्रभूत नट नर्तकाः | उत्सवाः च समाजाः च वर्धन्ते राष्ट्र वर्धनाः || २-६७-१५
“In a ruler- less territory, festivals and gatherings exalting the kingdom in which actors, and dancers exhibit their talents are not frequently arranged”

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

People do not cause to make a delightful assembly nor erect beautiful parks or temples.”

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

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

न अराकजे जन पदे धनवन्तः सुरक्षिताः | शेरते विवृत द्वाराः कृषि गो रक्ष जीविनः || २-६७-१९
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 जन पदे वणिजो दूर गामिनः | गच्चन्ति क्षेमम् अध्वानम् बहु पुण्य समाचिताः || २-६७-२२
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
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
“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
“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
“In a rulerless land, persons skilled in sacred treatises cannot sit speaking together in forests and groves.”

यथा हि अनुदका नद्यो यथा वा अपि अतृणम् वनम् | अगोपाला यथा गावः तथा राष्ट्रम् अराजकम् || २-६७-२९
A rulerless country is like the water less rivers, like the lawn less garden and like the cowherd less cows.”

न अराजके जन पदे स्वकम् भवति कस्यचित् | मत्स्याइव नरा नित्यम् भक्षयन्ति परस्परम् || २-६७-३१
“In a rulerless land, there is no one’s own property for any one. Like fishes, persons always eat away each other.”

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

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.”

Few more shlokas with English Transliteration followed by the English translation 

Nārājake janapade vidyunmālī mahāsvanah

Abhivarṣati parjanyo mahīm divyena vāriṇā //1//

Nārajake janapade vījanustih prakīryate

Nārājake pituh putro bhāryā vā vartate vaśe //2//

Arājake dhanam nāsti nāsti bhāryapyarājake

Idamatyāhitam cānyat kutah satyamarājake //3//

Nārājake janapade kārayanti sabhām narāh

Udayāni ca ramyāṇi hṛstāh pūnya gṛhāṇi ca //4//

Nārājake janapade yagnyaśīlā dvijātayah

Satrānyanvāsate dāntā brāhmanāh samśitavratāh //5//

Nārājake janapade prahṛstanatanantăkāh

Utsavāsca samājāśca vardhante rāsṭrabardhanāh //6//

Nārājake janapade siddhārthā vyavahārinah

Kathābhiranurajyante kathāśīlāh kathāpriyaih //7//

Nārājake janapade udyānāni samāgatāh

Sāyāhne krīditum yānti kumāryo hema bhūṣitāh //8//

Nārājake janapade vaṇijo dūragāminah

Gacchanti kshemamadhvānam

bahupaṇyasamācitāh //9//

Nārājake janapade caratyekacaro vaśī

Bhāvayannātmanātmānam yatra sāyamgrho munih //10//

Nārājake janapade yogaksemah pravartate

Na cāpyarājake senā śatrūn visahate yudhi //11//

Nārājake janapade narāh śāstraviśāradāh

Samvadantopatisthante vaneṣhūpavaneṣu ca //12//

Yathā hyanudăkā nadyo yathāvāpyatṛnam

Vanam Agopālā yathā gāvastathā rāsṭramarājakam //13//

Anarchy (Arājakta ) will lead to 

• Non-functioning of the water systems.
• Adverse affect on agriculture.
• Disturbance in Families.
• Takeover by goondas over the Monetary system & families.
• Social and cultural activities will take a beating. Deterioration of Temples, Dharmashālas.
• Adverse affect on Spiritual activities including Yagyas.
• Hampering of Peace, tranquility and harmony among people.
• Adverse affect on Kathakaars and those who spread good incidents.
• Young ladies will not be able to move out after sun-set
• Security comes down, feeling of insecurity increases.
• Morale of defense / security forces takes a beating resulting in reduced ability / inability to protect and defend against threats.
• Spread of science will stop.

Definition of anarchy as per Webster’s dictionary:

The definition of anarchy as per the Webster dictionary is as follows: ” a situation of confusion and wild behavior in which the people in a country, group, organization, etc., are not controlled by rules or laws”

1a   :  absence of government 1b   :  a state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority

2a   :  absence or denial of any authority or established order 2b  : absence of order :

Devi Bagavathi Amman temple festival in Kanyakumari (Tamilnadu, Bharat)

The rope used to hoist the flag during the Devi Bagavathi Amman temple festival in Kanyakumari (Tamilnadu, Bharat) is offered by a Christian fisherman's family. The 10-day Vaikasi festival began on June 4 and as per tradition, the rope for hoisting the temple flag was offered by 57-year-old fisherman, Subash. For seven generations, his family, otherwise called the `Kailiyaar' family, has been offering the rope for this temple ritual. According to Sahitya Akademi awardee and son of the soil Ponneelan, hundreds of years ago an old fisherwoman named `Kailiyamma' after selling fish went to collect dry cow dung from a rock, where the Vivekananda rock is now situated. At that time a little girl sitting near the rock, asked Kailiyamma to lift her and drop her at a distance. Kailiyamma, who was tired, refused but the child urged her and said she could drop her at any place if she found her weight too heavy to bear. After walking some yards with the girl, she found the child's weight too heavy and dropped her. Immediately, the child turned into a young woman and offered Kailiyama a garland and a gold ornament and asked her to choose whatever she likes. Kailliyamma chose the garland. The girl child, who was Devi Bagavathi Amman, offered Kailiyamma the first rights in her temple. The heirs of Kailiyamma were also given first rights and were allowed to give the ropes for hoisting the temple flag. "Earlier, we used to make the rope here, but now we buy the rope from shops in Nagercoil", said Subash who bought the rope this year. The rope is considered sacred and after it is bought from Nagercoil, it is not even placed on the floor during travel. "The night before the flag hoisting ceremony, after offering poojas, I take the rope on my head and go along with the officials to the temple," said Subash. Based on a report by Shri S Mahesh in THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS, June 14, 2011.

Haindava Keralam - global community of dedicated Hindu Keralites with a peace mission

Haindava Keralam - global community of dedicated Hindu Keralites with a peace mission

village without TASMAC

Ever heard of a village without TASMAC, (the government shop selling liquor) in Tamilnadu where every other street sports a TASMAC shop name board? In Aalavillampatti, Kallal Mathakutti Highways, Sivagangai District (Tamilnadu, Bharat), no one drinks liquor. Even outsiders who come to village do obey this village code. This is because of an incident and the promise made thereafter. The story goes like this. Centuries back, when a war was going on in Karnataka, people at the bank of river Kaveri wanted to come and settle in Tamilnadu. While trying to cross the river, flood occurred suddenly and they were not able to cross the river. On prayer, Ponnazhagi Devata blessed the villagers by putting up a bridge made up of Vanni tree. Before putting up the bridge she took a promise that nobody should consume liquor. Having been rescued by the Devata from danger, they settled in Aalavillampatti. They kept the promise, etched the words in metal "Liquor Prohibited' in the village'. If a stranger inadvertently consumes liquor, he too is punished and he pays the fine. Villagers of Aalavillampatti have also decided not to take or give dowry during marriages.