Valmiki Ramayana 2.100.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 100, Shloka 16

शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma

Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare

Devanagari script

मन्त्रो विजयमूलं हि राज्ञां भवति राघव।सुसंवृतो मन्त्रधरैरमात्यै श्शास्त्रकोविदैः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.100.16

Transliteration

mantro vijayamūlaṃ hi rājñāṃ bhavati rāghava | susaṃvṛto mantradharair amātyaiḥ śāstrakovidaiḥ ||

Translation

O Rāghava, der Rat ist wahrlich die Wurzel des Sieges der Könige, zumal wenn er wohlbehütet ist durch Minister, die Verschwiegenheit wahren und in den Śāstras kundig sind.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• mantraḥ: counsel, policy
• mantraḥ: Kartā (कर्ता) of 'bhavati'
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• vijaya-mūlam: root of victory
• vijaya-mūlam: Pradhāna-predicative (predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vijaya (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsakaliṅga (neuter), Prathamā, Ekavacana; samāsa: vijayasya mūlam

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Sentence particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) giving emphasis/causal sense

• rājñām: of kings
• rājñām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) / genitive relation
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Bahuvacana

• bhavati: becomes/is
• bhavati: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• rāghava: O Rāghava (Bharata)
• rāghava: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक; संबोधन)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• su-saṃvṛtaḥ: well-guarded, well-protected
• su-saṃvṛtaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of 'mantraḥ'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय उपसर्गवत्) + saṃvṛta (कृदन्त; √vṛ with sam-, kta)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; PPP used adjectivally; su- as intensifier

• mantra-dharaiḥ: by keepers of counsel
• mantra-dharaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण) / instrument/agency with 'saṃvṛtaḥ'
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana; samāsa: mantrān dharanti (those who can hold/keep counsel)

• amātyaiḥ: by ministers
• amātyaiḥ: Karaṇa (instrument/agents)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amātya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• śāstra-kovidaiḥ: learned in the śāstras
• śāstra-kovidaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of 'amātyaiḥ' (instrumental agents)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक) + kovida (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; samāsa: śāstreṣu kovidāḥ

Context

O Bharata! the well-guarded advice of ministers, learned in scriptures and capable of proper counselling, is the root of victory for kings, specially when the advice is kept in confidence.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Bharata (addressed as Rāghava)
• Ministers (amātya/mantrin)
• Śāstra

FAQs

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

Dharma in governance includes responsible confidentiality: wise counsel must be protected so decisions serve the common good rather than being distorted by intrigue.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma instructs Bharata on practical rāja-dharma: victory and stability arise from disciplined deliberation and trustworthy advisers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment and discretion—valuing knowledgeable counsel and safeguarding it from misuse.