Shloka 2.100.65
शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma (Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare)
नास्तिक्यमनृतं क्रोधं प्रमादं दीर्घसूत्रताम्।अदर्शनं ज्ञानवतामालस्यं पञ्चवृत्तिताम्।।।।एकचिन्तनमर्थानामनर्थज्ञैश्च मन्त्रणम्।निश्चितानामनारम्भं मन्त्रस्यापरिरक्षणम्।।।।मङ्गलाद्यप्रयोगं च प्रत्युत्थानं च सर्वतः।कच्चित्वं वर्जयस्येतान्राजदोषांश्चतुर्दश।।।।
kaccit te brāhmaṇāḥ śarma sarvaśāstrārthakovidāḥ | āśaṃsante mahāprājña paurajānapadaiḥ saha ||
O greatly wise one, do the brāhmaṇas—skilled in the meaning of all śāstras—together with the townspeople and the countryfolk, wish for your welfare and happiness?
I trust you eschew the fourteen faults of kings, like atheism, falsehood, anger, inattention, procrastination, evading the wise, indolence, gratification of all five senses, planning alone in the affairs of the kingdom, consultation with people who are proficient in worthless acts, failure to implement decisious, inability to keep the counsel secret and omission of auspicious practices and setting out against all the enemies at a time.
A king’s legitimacy depends on dharmic approval: the learned (brāhmaṇas) and the people (urban and rural) should sincerely wish for the ruler’s welfare because he protects them with justice and truth.
The speaker assesses Bharata’s relationship with key social groups—religious scholars and the general populace—as part of guidance on governance.
Public-minded kingship: earning trust and blessings through righteous conduct.