Shloka 2.100.58

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

Devanagari script

व्यसने कच्चिदाढ्यस्य दुर्गतस्य च राघव।अर्थं विरागाः पश्यन्ति तवामात्या बहुश्रुताः।।।।

Transliteration

vyasane kaccid āḍhyasya durgatasya ca rāghava | arthaṃ virāgāḥ paśyanti tavāmātyā bahuśrutāḥ ||

Translation

O Rāghava, in times of hardship, do your well-informed ministers examine matters without bias, whether the person concerned is wealthy or destitute?

Context

O Bharata, I trust that your ministers are well-informed and look into all matters in times of hardship pertaining to whether a man is rich or poor without any bias to either.

Characters & Entities

• Rāghava (Bharata)
• Ministers (amātya)

FAQs

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

Impartial justice: governance must not tilt toward wealth or status; administrators should be detached and fair, especially during crises.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama evaluates the quality of Bharata’s counsel—whether ministers judge cases fairly across social and economic lines.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fair-minded administration—equity and non-partisanship in public decision-making.