Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 100, Shloka 48

शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma

Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare

Devanagari script

तेषां गुप्तिपरीहारैः कच्चित्ते भरणं कृतम्।रक्ष्या हि राज्ञा धर्मेण सर्वे विषयवासिनः।।।।

Transliteration

teṣāṃ guptiparīhāraiḥ kaccit te bharaṇaṃ kṛtam |

rakṣyā hi rājñā dharmeṇa sarve viṣayavāsinaḥ || 2.100.48 ||

Translation

Have you ensured their maintenance through protection and the warding off of hardships? For all who dwell in the realm must indeed be protected by the king in accordance with dharma.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (of them)

• गुप्ति-परिहारैः: by protection and prevention (of harms)
• गुप्ति-परिहारैः: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gupti (प्रातिपदिक) + parihāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (गुप्तिभिः च परिहारैः च)

• कच्चित्: I hope
• कच्चित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kaccit (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (I hope)

• ते: by you
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी, एकवचन (by you/for them under you); अत्र कर्तृसम्बन्धे ‘त्वया’ अर्थे प्रयोगः (idiomatic)

• भरणम्: maintenance
• भरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र कर्म (maintenance as thing done)

• कृतम्: has been done
• कृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘done’ (भरणं कृतम्)

• रक्ष्याः: must be protected
• रक्ष्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakṣ (धातु) + ya (कृत् प्रत्यय, यत्/ण्यत्)
• Form: कर्तव्यतार्थक कृदन्त (ण्यत्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘to be protected’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (indeed)

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ-करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (by the king)

• धर्मेण: with righteousness
• धर्मेण: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; साधन/रीति (with righteousness)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• विषय-वासिनः: inhabitants of the realm
• विषय-वासिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣaya (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विषये वसन्ति)

Context

I trust you nourish them and also afford portection and prevent adversities. A king must protect all those people living in his country in accordanc with righteousness.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The king’s dharma is protective care: not only punishing wrongs but proactively preventing suffering and ensuring the people’s basic maintenance.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma instructs/assesses Bharata’s governance, stressing that the ruler is responsible for the safety and welfare of all residents.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Duty-bound compassion (dayā with discipline): governance that combines security measures with righteous responsibility.