Shloka 2.100.46
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।।
vivarjito naraiḥ pāpair mama pūrvaiḥ surakṣitaḥ |
kaccij janapadaḥ sphītaḥ sukhaṃ vasati rāghava || 2.100.46 ||
Is the countryside free of sinful men, well guarded as it was by my forefathers, and—O Rāghava—prosperous, with its people living in comfort?
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.
Dharma here is governance rooted in moral order: removing harmful influences (pāpāḥ narāḥ), ensuring security, and enabling the people’s well-being. Prosperity is treated as a sign of righteous protection rather than mere wealth.
Rāma continues his series of ‘kaccit’ questions to Bharata, testing whether the kingdom remains secure, ethically ordered, and prosperous under Bharata’s stewardship.
Bharata’s expected virtue is integrity in kingship—upholding the ancestral standard of protection and ensuring citizens live without fear and with basic comfort.