Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 3
अष्टमः सर्गः
Daśaratha Resolves on the Aśvamedha (Horse-Sacrifice) for Progeny
स निश्चितां मतिं कृत्वा यष्टव्यमिति बुद्धिमान्।मन्त्रिभिस्सह धर्मात्मा सर्वैरेव कृतात्मभि:।।।।ततोऽब्रवीदिदं राजा सुमन्त्रं मन्त्रिसत्तमम्।शीघ्रमानय मे सर्वान्गुरूंस्तान् सपुरोहितान्।।।।
sa niścitāṃ matiṃ kṛtvā yaṣṭavyam iti buddhimān |
mantribhiḥ saha dharmātmā sarvair eva kṛtātmabhiḥ ||
tato ’bravīd idaṃ rājā sumantraṃ mantrisattamam |
śīghram ānaya me sarvān gurūṃs tān sa-purohitān ||
Having firmly resolved—after consulting his self-controlled ministers—that a sacrifice should be performed, the wise and righteous King (Daśaratha) addressed Sumantra, the foremost of ministers: “Quickly bring to me all my revered teachers, together with the royal priests.”
Having thus ordered his ministers sitting nearby, sent this highly brilliant, thispre-eminent among kings them away and entered the inner apartment.
FAQs
Rajadharma: a king should act through deliberation with disciplined counselors and proceed in righteous, socially sanctioned ways (here, a Vedic sacrifice) rather than impulsively.
Daśaratha, desiring to undertake a major sacrifice, formalizes his decision and instructs Sumantra to summon spiritual authorities and priests.
Daśaratha’s prudence and dharmic governance—he consults ministers and seeks guidance from qualified religious authorities.