Shloka 1.7.4
अमात्य-गुणवर्णनम् (The Virtues of Daśaratha’s Ministers and the Order of Governance)
ऋत्विजौ द्वावभिमतौ तस्याऽऽस्तामृषिसत्तमौ ।वसिष्ठो वामदेवश्च मन्त्रिणश्च तथापरे ।।।।
ṛtvijau dvāv abhimatau tasyāstām ṛṣisattamau | vasiṣṭho vāmadevaś ca mantriṇaś ca tathāpare ||
He had two highly esteemed family priests—those foremost of seers, Vasiṣṭha and Vāmadeva—and there were also other counsellors besides.
He had two well-chosen excellent rishis, Vasishta and Vamadeva, as family priests besides some other counsellors.
A king’s dharma includes seeking guidance from learned, disciplined religious authorities and wise counsellors, so that statecraft remains aligned with righteousness rather than mere power.
The epic is describing Daśaratha’s court—his trusted ritual preceptors (ṛtvij-s) and his ministerial support—setting the moral and institutional backdrop for Rāma’s story.
Daśaratha’s discernment and commitment to dharmic governance: he keeps eminent sages and counsellors close for right decision-making.