Shloka 2.100.43
शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma (Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare)
कच्चिच्चैत्यशतैर्जुष्ट स्सुनिविष्टजनाकुलः।देवस्थानैः प्रपाभिश्च तटाकैश्चोपशोभितः।।।।प्रहृष्टनरनारीकस्समाजोत्सवशोभितः।सुकृष्टसीमा पशुमान्हिंसाभिः परिवर्जितः।।।।अदेवमातृको रम्य श्श्वापदैः परिवर्जितः।परित्यक्तो भयैस्सर्वैः खनिभिश्चोपशोभितः।।।।विवर्जितो नरैः पापैर्मम पूर्वै स्सुरक्षितः।कच्चिज्जनपदस्स्फीतः सुखं वसति राघव।।।।
kaccit caitya-śatair juṣṭaḥ suniviṣṭa-jana-ākulaḥ |
devasthānaiḥ prapābhiś ca taṭākaiś copaśobhitaḥ ||
prahṛṣṭa-nara-nārīkaḥ samāja-utsava-śobhitaḥ |
sukṛṣṭa-sīmā paśumān hiṃsābhiḥ parivarjitaḥ ||
adeva-mātṛko ramyaḥ śvāpadaiḥ parivarjitaḥ |
parityakto bhayaiḥ sarvaiḥ khanibhiś copaśobhitaḥ ||
vivarjito naraiḥ pāpaiḥ mama pūrvaiḥ surakṣitaḥ |
kaccij janapadaḥ sphītaḥ sukhaṃ vasati rāghava ||
O Rāghava, I trust the countryside is thriving: graced with hundreds of sacred shrines, densely settled by people living in comfort; beautified with temples, water-giving rest-houses, and reservoirs; radiant with assemblies and festivals where men and women rejoice; its borders well ploughed, rich in cattle, and free from violence; delightful, not dependent on rain, and free from wild beasts; with every fear driven out, adorned with mines and resources; safeguarded by my ancestors and cleared of sinful men—so that the people dwell in ease and prosperity.
O Bharata, my country which is marked with hundreds of sanctuaries near villages where life of the people is made comfortable, where there are shrines, water distribution facilities and tanks, which is well-ploughed and rich in cattle-wealth, free from violence and independent of rain. It is enchanting. It is safe from wild animals. With fears expelled, free from sinful people, adorned with mines and well-protected by my ancestors, it is prosperous and I hope people are living comfortably.
A king’s dharma includes public welfare infrastructure (water, reservoirs), safety, non-violence, and ensuring prosperity so subjects live without fear.
Rāma checks whether Bharata’s administration keeps the countryside safe, prosperous, and ethically ordered.
Compassionate statecraft: governance measured by the happiness, security, and moral health of ordinary people.