Canto 2: Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa ()Chapter 67: The Sages Request Vasiṣṭha to Coronate a son of DaśarathaText 2.67.31
Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 67: The Sages Request Vasiṣṭha to Coronate a son of Daśaratha
Text 2.67.31
नाराजके जनपदे स्वकं भवति कस्यचित्।
मत्स्या इव नरा नित्यं भक्षयन्ति परस्परम्॥
nārājake janapade svakaṁ bhavati kasyacit
matsyā iva narā nityaṁ bhakṣayanti parasparam
na = nothing; arājake = without a genuine king; janapade = in a land; svakam bhavati kasyacit = belongs to anyone; matsyāḥ iva = like fish [that consume each other]; narāḥ = men; nityam = continuously; bhakṣayanti = will consume; parasparam = each other.
In a land without a genuine king, nothing belongs to anyone. Men will continuously consume each other like fish [that consume each other].