Shloka 2.100.45
शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma (Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare)
कच्चिच्चैत्यशतैर्जुष्ट स्सुनिविष्टजनाकुलः।देवस्थानैः प्रपाभिश्च तटाकैश्चोपशोभितः।।2.100.43।।प्रहृष्टनरनारीकस्समाजोत्सवशोभितः।सुकृष्टसीमा पशुमान्हिंसाभिः परिवर्जितः।।2.100.44।।अदेवमातृको रम्य श्श्वापदैः परिवर्जितः।परित्यक्तो भयैस्सर्वैः खनिभिश्चोपशोभितः।।2.100.45।।विवर्जितो नरैः पापैर्मम पूर्वै स्सुरक्षितः।कच्चिज्जनपदस्स्फीतः सुखं वसति राघव।।2.100.46।।
adevamātṛko ramyaḥ śvāpadaiḥ parivarjitaḥ |
parityakto bhayaiḥ sarvaiḥ khanibhiś copaśobhitaḥ || 2.100.45 ||
Is that delightful land not dependent on rainfall, free from wild beasts, with every fear driven away, and further adorned by its mines?
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 wellploughed and rich in cattlewealth, 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 wellprotected by my ancestors, it is prosperous and I hope people are living comfortably.
The verse points to rājadharma: a ruler’s duty is to create a secure, fear-free realm where people can live safely and prosper—through protection, infrastructure, and stable resources (including water security and managed wealth such as mines).
In the forest exile period, Rāma meets Bharata and questions him closely about the condition of the kingdom, using markers of good governance—safety from predators, absence of fear, and economic strength.
Rāma’s virtue of responsible kingship and compassion for subjects: even in exile, his concern is that the realm be safe, orderly, and materially supported.