अमात्य-गुणवर्णनम् (The Virtues of Daśaratha’s Ministers and the Order of Governance)
बालकाण्ड
Sarga 7 provides an institutional portrait of Ayodhyā under King Daśaratha by describing the caliber and ethical discipline of his ministers and advisers. The chapter first characterizes the amātyas as virtuous, skilled in counsel (mantra-jñā) and in reading intentions (iṅgita-jñā), consistently oriented toward what is both pleasing and beneficial to the king (1.7.1). It then specifies their number—eight—and names them: Dhṛṣṭi, Jayanta, Vijaya, Siddhārtha, Arthasādhaka, Aśoka, Mantrapāla, and Sumantra (1.7.2–1.7.3). Alongside them stand the highly esteemed royal priests Vasiṣṭha and Vāmadeva (1.7.4), reinforcing the synthesis of political prudence and Vedic-ritual authority. The ministers are depicted as educated, self-restrained, truthful, consistent between word and deed, and socially adept (1.7.5–1.7.8), while also competent in fiscal replenishment and military organization (1.7.9–1.7.11). Governance is portrayed as impartial: punishment is timely and proportionate—even toward one’s own sons—yet the innocent are not harmed, and brahmins and kṣatriyas are not pained in thought, speech, or action (1.7.8–1.7.11). The result is civic-moral order: no liars, no sexual misconduct, and general serenity in city and realm (1.7.12–1.7.13). The sarga culminates by attributing Daśaratha’s glory and effective rule to this ministerial ecosystem—secrecy in counsel, peace/war discernment, ethical expertise, and pleasing speech—likening his radiance to the rising sun (1.7.16–1.7.22), with additional emphasis on spies, righteousness, and peerless sovereignty (1.7.19–1.7.21).
Verse 1.7.1
.तस्यामात्या गुणैरासन्निक्ष्वाकोस्तु महात्मन: ।मन्त्रज्ञाश्चेङ्गितज्ञाश्च नित्यं प्रियहिते रता: ।।।।
That magnanimous king of the Ikṣvāku line had ministers rich in virtues—skilled in counsel, skilled in reading intentions from outward signs, and ever intent on what was both pleasing and beneficial to their lord.
Verse 1.7.2
अष्टौ बभूवुर्वीरस्य तस्यामात्या यशस्विन: ।शुचयश्चानुरक्ताश्च राजकृत्येषु नित्यश: ।।।।
They were Dhṛṣṭi, Jayanta, Vijaya, Siddhārtha, Arthasādhaka, Aśoka, Mantrapāla—and as the eighth, Sumantra.
Verse 1.7.3
धृष्टिर्जयन्तो विजयस्सिद्धार्थो ह्यर्थसाधक: ।अशोको मन्त्रपालश्च सुमन्त्रश्चाष्टमोऽभवत् ।।।।
Surrounded by those ministers—appointed for counsel that served his welfare, loyal, skilled, and capable—the king attained radiance, like the rising sun filled with luminous rays.
Verse 1.7.4
ऋत्विजौ द्वावभिमतौ तस्याऽऽस्तामृषिसत्तमौ ।वसिष्ठो वामदेवश्च मन्त्रिणश्च तथापरे ।।।।
He had two highly esteemed family priests—those foremost of seers, Vasiṣṭha and Vāmadeva—and there were also other counsellors besides.
Verse 1.7.5
विद्याविनीता ह्रीमन्त: कुशला नियतेन्द्रिया: ।श्रीमन्तश्च महात्मानश्शास्त्रज्ञा दृढविक्रमा: ।।।।कीर्तिमन्त: प्रणिहिता: यथावचनकारिण: ।तेज: क्षमायश:प्राप्ता स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषिण: ।।।।
They were trained through learning and discipline, ashamed to do what is wrong, skilled, and self-restrained. Prosperous and high-souled, they knew the śāstras and were steadfast in courage. Renowned and attentive, they acted according to what they spoke; endowed with splendour, forbearance, and good repute, they addressed others with words preceded by a smile.
Verse 1.7.6
विद्याविनीता ह्रीमन्त: कुशला नियतेन्द्रिया: ।श्रीमन्तश्च महात्मानश्शास्त्रज्ञा दृढविक्रमा: ।।1.7.5।। कीर्तिमन्त: प्रणिहिता: यथावचनकारिण: ।तेज: क्षमायश:प्राप्ता स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषिण: ।।1.7.6।।
In this recension, the same portrayal runs across the verse division: the king’s men were learned and disciplined, morally modest, skilled and self-controlled; prosperous, noble, and śāstra-versed; famed, attentive, and true to their word in action; radiant, forbearing, honoured, and gentle in speech, speaking with a smile.
Verse 1.7.7
क्रोधात्कामार्थहेतोर्वा न ब्रूयुरनृतं वच: ।तेषामविदितं किञ्चित्स्वेषु नास्ति परेषु वा ।क्रियमाणं कृतं वापि चारेणापि चिकीर्षितम् ।।।।
Whether from anger, desire, or the sake of gain, they would not utter untruthful words. Nothing—among their own side or among opponents—remained unknown to them: what was being done, what had been done, and what was intended, even through the use of spies.
Verse 1.7.8
कुशला व्यवहारेषु सौहृदेषु परीक्षिता: ।प्राप्तकालं तु ते दण्डं धारयेयुस्सुतेष्वपि ।।।।
They were skilled in practical dealings and proven in friendship; and when the time was proper, they would administer punishment—even in matters concerning their own sons.
Verse 1.7.9
कोशसङ्ग्रहणे युक्ता बलस्य च परिग्रहे ।अहितं चापि पुरुषं न विहिंस्युरदूषकम् ।।।।
They were adept at building the treasury and maintaining the armed forces; yet they would not harm even an ill-disposed person, if he was without offence.
Verse 1.7.10
वीराश्च नियतोत्साहा राजशास्त्रमनुष्ठिता: ।शुचीनां रक्षितारश्च नित्यं विषयवासिनाम् ।।।।
They were heroic and steadfast in resolve, faithfully observing the principles of governance; and they continually protected the virtuous people dwelling throughout the realm.
Verse 1.7.11
ब्रह्म क्षत्रमहिंसन्तस्ते कोशं समपूरयन् ।सुतीक्ष्णदण्डास्संप्रेक्ष्य पुरुषस्य बलाबलम् ।।।।
Without harming brāhmaṇas or kṣatriyas, they filled the treasury; and, after assessing a person’s strength and weakness, they administered punishments that were strict and effective.
Verse 1.7.12
शुचीनामेकबुद्धीनां सर्वेषां सम्प्रजानताम् ।नासीत्पुरे वा राष्ट्रे वा मृषावादी नर: क्वचित् ।।।।
With administrators pure in conduct and of one mind, there was nowhere—neither in city nor countryside—any man who lived by falsehood.
Verse 1.7.13
कश्चिन्न दुष्टस्तत्रासीत्परदाररतो नर: ।प्रशान्तं सर्वमेवासीद्राष्ट्रं पुरवरं च तत् ।।।।
In that realm there was not even one wicked man, nor any who lusted after another’s wife; the whole kingdom—along with its excellent capital—remained tranquil and well-ordered.
Verse 1.7.14
सुवाससस्सुवेषाश्च ते च सर्वे सुशीलिन: ।हितार्थं च नरेन्द्रस्य जाग्रतो नयचक्षुषा ।।।।
All were well-clothed and well-adorned, of excellent character; with the wisdom of polity as their eyes, they stayed ever vigilant for the king’s welfare.
Verse 1.7.15
गुरोर्गुणगृहीताश्च प्रख्याताश्च पराक्रमे ।विदेशेष्वपि विज्ञातास्सर्वतो बुद्धिनिश्चयात् ।।।।
They had taken in the virtues of their elders and were famed for valor; by sound judgment in every matter, they were known even in foreign lands.
Verse 1.7.16
सन्धिविग्रहतत्त्वज्ञा: प्रकृत्या सम्पदान्विता: ।।।।मन्त्रसंवरणे शक्ताश्श्लक्ष्णास्सूक्ष्मासु बुद्धिषु ।नीतिशास्त्रविशेषज्ञास्सततं प्रियवादिन: ।।।।
They understood the true principles of alliance and conflict; naturally prosperous, able to guard counsel in secrecy, refined and subtle in intelligence—masters of the science of polity—and ever pleasant in speech.
Verse 1.7.17
सन्धिविग्रहतत्त्वज्ञा: प्रकृत्या सम्पदान्विता: ।।1.7.16।।मन्त्रसंवरणे शक्ताश्श्लक्ष्णास्सूक्ष्मासु बुद्धिषु ।नीतिशास्त्रविशेषज्ञास्सततं प्रियवादिन: ।।1.7.17।।
They understood the true principles of alliance and conflict; naturally prosperous, able to guard counsel in secrecy, refined and subtle in intelligence—masters of the science of polity—and ever pleasant in speech.
Verse 1.7.18
ईदृशैस्तैरमात्यैस्तु राजा दशरथोऽनघ: ।उपपन्नो गुणोपेतैरन्वशासद्वसुन्धराम् ।।।।
Surrounded by such ministers endowed with virtues, the sinless king Daśaratha governed the earth in due order.
Verse 1.7.19
अवेक्षमाणश्चारेण प्रजा धर्मेण रञ्जयन् ।प्रजानां पालनं कुर्वन्नधर्मान्परिवर्जयन् ।।।।विश्रुतस्त्रिषु लोकेषु वदान्यस्सत्यसङ्गर: ।स तत्र पुरुषव्याघ्रश्शशास पृथिवीमिमाम् ।।।।
That mighty and renowned king (Daśaratha) had eight ministers—pure in conduct and loyally devoted—ever engaged in the duties of kingship.
Verse 1.7.20
अवेक्षमाणश्चारेण प्रजा धर्मेण रञ्जयन् ।प्रजानां पालनं कुर्वन्नधर्मान्परिवर्जयन् ।।1.7.19।। विश्रुतस्त्रिषु लोकेषु वदान्यस्सत्यसङ्गर: ।स तत्र पुरुषव्याघ्रश्शशास पृथिवीमिमाम् ।।1.7.20।।
He also had two esteemed chief sages as royal priests—Vasiṣṭha and Vāmadeva—along with other counsellors as well.
Verse 1.7.21
नाध्यगच्छद्विशिष्टं वा तुल्यं वा शत्रुमात्मन: ।मित्रवान्नतसामन्त: प्रतापहतकण्टक: ।।।।स शशास जगद्राजा दिवं देवपतिर्यथा ।
They were educated and disciplined, ashamed to commit injustice, skilled and self-controlled; prosperous, high-minded, learned in the śāstras, and steadfast in valor. Renowned and attentive, they acted in accordance with their word; endowed with splendor, forbearance, and fame, they spoke with courtesy, beginning with a smile.
Verse 1.7.22
तैर्मन्त्रिभिर्मन्त्रहिते नियुक्तैर्वृतोऽनुरक्तै: कुशलैस्समर्थै: ।स पार्थिवो दीप्तिमवाप युक्तस्तेजोमयैर्गोभिरिवोदितोऽर्क: ।।।।
Keeping watch through his agents, he protected the people, delighted them by righteousness, and kept away from unrighteousness. Renowned in the three worlds as generous and steadfast in truth, that tiger among men ruled this earth there in Ayodhyā in a dharmic manner.
Verse 1.7.23
He found no foe superior to him, nor even equal. Abounding in allies, with neighboring kings humbled and thorn-like enemies struck down by his valor, that ruler of the world governed as the Lord of the gods rules heaven.