Panchatantra · Sanskrit Story

A Kingdom Without Its King

राजहीनम् राज्यम्

British India Political Records, 1853; Government of India National Archives · Intermediate Sanskrit

Moral · नीतिः

संकटकाले राज्ञः परीक्षा भवति।

Saṃkaṭakāle rājñaḥ parīkṣā bhavati.

In times of crisis, a ruler is tested.

The Raja Is Gone

कार्तिकमासस्य एकविंशत्याम् दिने गङ्गाधरराजः परलोकम् अगच्छत्। झाँसीनगरे शोकस्य छाया व्याप्ता। लक्ष्मीबाई धवलवस्त्रं धारयित्वा स्थिता — दृढा, शान्ता च। जनाः अरोदन् — "आमरणधर्मः राजन्, तव स्मरणम् चिरम्।" परन्तु राज्यस्य भारः अब एकस्याः एव — लक्ष्मीबाईः।

On the twenty-first day of the month of Kartika, Maharaja Gangadhar Rao departed to the next world. A shadow of grief spread over the city of Jhansi. Lakshmibai stood wearing white — firm and calm. People wept — "O King who was righteous to the end, your memory will last long." But the burden of the kingdom was now on one alone — Lakshmibai.

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