शून्यसंवरणारक्षामयन्त्रितहयद्विपाम्।
अपावृतपुरद्वारां राजधानीमरक्षिताम्॥
अप्रहृष्टबलां न्यूनां विषमस्थामनावृताम्।
शत्रवो नाभिमन्यन्ते भक्षान्विषकृतानिव॥
śūnya-saṁvaraṇārakṣām ayantrita-haya-dvipām
apāvṛta-pura-dvārāṁ rājadhānīm arakṣitām
aprahṛṣṭa-balāṁ nyūnāṁ viṣamasthām anāvṛtām
śatravo nābhimanyante bhakṣān viṣa-kṛtān iva
śūnya-saṁvaraṇa-ārakṣām = that is devoid of security in the outer gates; ayantrita-haya-dvipām = whose horses and elephants are unrestrained; apāvṛta-pura-dvārām = whose city gates are left open; rājadhānīm = capital; arakṣitām = an unprotected; aprahṛṣṭa-balām = whose military force is joyless; nyūnām = which has no means [to fend for itself]; viṣamasthām = and which is in a state of crisis; anāvṛtām = and without external security; śatravaḥ = enemies; na = don’t; abhimanyante = think of capturing; bhakṣān viṣa-kṛtān iva = they consider it to be a meal mixed with poison.
“Enemies don’t think of capturing an unprotected capital that is devoid of security in the outer gates, whose horses and elephants are unrestrained, whose city gates are left open, whose military force is joyless, which has no means [to fend for itself], and which is in a state of crisis and without external security. They consider it to be a meal mixed with poison.
A place devoid of Rāma’s prowess is devoid of protection. That is stated in this verse.
The horses and elephants were unrestrained because their caretakers were overwhelmed [in thoughts] about Rāma. The military force was joyless because of their insecurity.
Bharata then considered Himself to be the root cause of all these problems and described His atonement [for the same] next.
GLOSS. Enemies considered Ayodhyā to be a meal mixed with poison; they didn’t desire [to take over] Ayodhyā out of fear of Rāma.