Shloka 2.100.29
शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma (Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare)
उपायकुशलं वैद्यं भृत्यसंदूषणे रतम्।शूरमैश्वर्यकामं च यो न हन्ति स हन्यते।।।।
kaccit tvāṁ nāvajānanti yājakāḥ patitaṁ yathā |
ugra-pratigrahītāraṁ kāmayānam iva striyaḥ ||
Do the ritual priests not look down upon you—as they would upon a fallen man—because of harsh or improper exactions; and do women not disdain you as they would a lust-driven man?
A learned person but skilled in contrivances, a warrior with passion for wealth and a man ever engaged in corrupting the minds of servants must be slain. A king who does not kill them is himself killed in due course.
Dharma in rulership includes restraint in revenue and conduct: a king must not become infamous for wrongful taking (adharma in collection) or for uncontrolled desire; social trust is a moral asset.
Rāma continues his examination of Bharata’s kingship, asking whether respected social groups hold him in esteem and whether his conduct is beyond reproach.
Bharata is implicitly urged toward integrity (śīla) and moderation—so that the righteous (priests) and society at large do not lose respect.