Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 100, Shloka 44
शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma
Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare
कच्चिच्चैत्यशतैर्जुष्ट स्सुनिविष्टजनाकुलः।देवस्थानैः प्रपाभिश्च तटाकैश्चोपशोभितः।।2.100.43।।प्रहृष्टनरनारीकस्समाजोत्सवशोभितः।सुकृष्टसीमा पशुमान्हिंसाभिः परिवर्जितः।।2.100.44।।अदेवमातृको रम्य श्श्वापदैः परिवर्जितः।परित्यक्तो भयैस्सर्वैः खनिभिश्चोपशोभितः।।2.100.45।।विवर्जितो नरैः पापैर्मम पूर्वै स्सुरक्षितः।कच्चिज्जनपदस्स्फीतः सुखं वसति राघव।।2.100.46।।
indriyāṇāṃ jayaṃ buddhyā ṣāḍguṇyaṃ daiva-mānuṣam |
kṛtyaṃ viṃśati-vargaṃ ca tathā prakṛti-maṇḍalam ||
yātrā-daṇḍa-vidhānaṃ ca dvi-yonī sandhi-vigrahau |
kaccid etān mahāprājña yathāvad anumanyase ||
O greatly wise one, I trust you rightly apply—through clear intellect—mastery over the senses; the sixfold policy measures; discernment of troubles arising from fate and from human agency; the required state-actions and the twentyfold administrative considerations; and the circle of constituents and alliances; as well as the proper organization of expeditions and punishments, and the twin courses of peace and war.
O Bharata, my country which is marked with hundreds of sanctuaries near villages where life of the people is made comfortable, where there are shrines, water distribution facilities and tanks, which is wellploughed and rich in cattlewealth, free from violence and independent of rain. It is enchanting. It is safe from wild animals. With fears expelled, free from sinful people, adorned with mines and wellprotected by my ancestors, it is prosperous and I hope people are living comfortably.
FAQs
Ethical governance begins with self-mastery (indriya-jaya) and proceeds through disciplined, knowledge-based statecraft—justice, diplomacy, and war only when righteous and necessary.
Rāma tests Bharata’s preparedness to rule by asking whether he follows classical principles of governance, punishment, diplomacy, and strategic decision-making.
Prudence and restraint: wisdom that controls impulses and applies power (daṇḍa) and diplomacy (sandhi) with discernment.