Shloka 2.100.50

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

Devanagari script

कच्चिन्नागवनं गुप्तं कच्चित्ते सन्ति धेनुकाः।कच्चिन्न गणिकाश्वानां कुञ्जराणां च तृप्यसि।।।।

Transliteration

kaccin nāgavanaṃ guptaṃ kaccit te santi dhenukāḥ |

kaccin na gaṇikāśvānāṃ kuñjarāṇāṃ ca tṛpyasi || 2.100.50 ||

Translation

Is the elephant-forest well protected, and do you have plentiful milch-cows? And regarding mares and elephants, do you avoid being content with too little, keeping the royal resources sufficient?

Context

I trust, you protect the habitat of elephants and you have a large number of milch cows. I trust you are not contented with the existing number of female and maleelephants and horses.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• nāgavana (elephant preserve)
• cows (dhenukāḥ)
• mares (gaṇikāśvānām)
• elephants (kuñjarāḥ)

FAQs

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

Rājadharma includes stewardship of state resources (cattle, horses, elephants) and protection of habitats—security and prosperity must be maintained responsibly, not exploited or neglected.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma continues his governance checklist, asking about the protection of elephant preserves and the adequacy of key royal assets.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Foresight in administration: ensuring the kingdom’s strategic resources are safeguarded and sufficient for public order and defense.