Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 8

अमात्य-गुणवर्णनम्

The Virtues of Daśaratha’s Ministers and the Order of Governance

Devanagari script

कुशला व्यवहारेषु सौहृदेषु परीक्षिता: ।प्राप्तकालं तु ते दण्डं धारयेयुस्सुतेष्वपि ।।।।

Transliteration

kuśalā vyavahāreṣu sauhṛdeṣu parīkṣitāḥ | prāpta-kālaṃ tu te daṇḍaṃ dhārayeyuḥ suteṣv api ||

Translation

Ils étaient habiles dans les affaires pratiques et éprouvés dans l’amitié ; et lorsque le temps convenable venait, ils appliquaient le châtiment, même dans les affaires concernant leurs propres fils.

Word by Word

• वीराः: valiant
• वीराः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• नियत-उत्साहाः: steadfast in zeal
• नियत-उत्साहाः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत + उत्साह (प्रातिपदिक; नियतोत्साह)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: नियतः उत्साहः येषाम्; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• राज-शास्त्रम्: royal policy / statecraft
• राज-शास्त्रम्: कर्म (Object of अनु-√स्था)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक; राजशास्त्र)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: राज्ञः शास्त्रम् (statecraft); द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• अनुष्ठिताः: practising / having followed
• अनुष्ठिताः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु + स्था (धातु) → अनुष्ठित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• शुचीनाम्: of the virtuous
• शुचीनाम्: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• रक्षितारः: protectors
• रक्षितारः: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

• विषय-वासिनाम्: of the inhabitants of the realm
• विषय-वासिनाम्: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक; विषयवासिन्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: विषये वासिनाम्; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

Context

They knew how to deal (with people). They were true to their friends. They used to impose appropriate punishment even on their own sons.

FAQs

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

Impartial justice (danda-nīti) is part of dharma: discipline must be applied appropriately, without favoritism—even toward one’s own family.

What is the narrative situation?

A description of ideal ministers: competent in administration, trustworthy in friendship, and fair in enforcing law.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fair-mindedness and duty over personal attachment.