Shloka 2.100.18

शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma (Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare)

Devanagari script

कच्चिन्मन्त्रयसे नैकः कच्चिन्न बहुभिस्सह।कच्चित्ते मन्त्रितो मन्त्रो राष्ट्रं न परिधावति।।।।

Transliteration

kaccin mantrayase naikaḥ kaccin na bahubhiḥ saha | kaccit te mantrito mantro rāṣṭraṃ na paridhāvati ||

Translation

Do you neither deliberate wholly alone, nor consult with too many at once? And once you have settled a policy, does it remain well contained, so that it does not spread throughout the kingdom?

Context

I hope you neither decide alone nor discuss with many. I trust a decision once made by you is not leaked in the kingdom.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Bharata
• rāṣṭra (kingdom/state)

FAQs

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

Rajadharma requires balanced counsel—neither autocratic isolation nor indiscriminate consultation—and the ethical restraint to protect sensitive decisions from becoming public rumor that can harm the state.

What is the narrative situation?

After meeting Bharata, Rāma questions him about his governance, offering practical tests of good kingship—how he consults and whether decisions remain secure.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence (nīti) and self-control: the ruler must seek wise counsel appropriately and maintain confidentiality for the welfare of the kingdom.