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।।।।

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.

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.