Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 3
अष्टमः सर्गः
Daśaratha Resolves on the Aśvamedha (Horse-Sacrifice) for Progeny
स निश्चितां मतिं कृत्वा यष्टव्यमिति बुद्धिमान्।मन्त्रिभिस्सह धर्मात्मा सर्वैरेव कृतात्मभि:।।।।ततोऽब्रवीदिदं राजा सुमन्त्रं मन्त्रिसत्तमम्।शीघ्रमानय मे सर्वान्गुरूंस्तान् सपुरोहितान्।।।।
sa niścitāṃ matiṃ kṛtvā yaṣṭavyam iti buddhimān |
mantribhiḥ saha dharmātmā sarvair eva kṛtātmabhiḥ ||
tato ’bravīd idaṃ rājā sumantraṃ mantrisattamam |
śīghram ānaya me sarvān gurūṃs tān sa-purohitān ||
बुद्धिमान् धर्मात्मा राजा ने आत्मसंयमी मंत्रियों के साथ विचार कर यज्ञ करने का दृढ़ निश्चय किया। तब उसने मंत्रिश्रेष्ठ सुमंत्र से कहा—“शीघ्र मेरे लिए उन सब पूज्य गुरुओं को, पुरोहितों सहित, ले आओ।”
Having thus ordered his ministers sitting nearby, sent this highly brilliant, thispre-eminent among kings them away and entered the inner apartment.
FAQs
Rajadharma: a king should act through deliberation with disciplined counselors and proceed in righteous, socially sanctioned ways (here, a Vedic sacrifice) rather than impulsively.
Daśaratha, desiring to undertake a major sacrifice, formalizes his decision and instructs Sumantra to summon spiritual authorities and priests.
Daśaratha’s prudence and dharmic governance—he consults ministers and seeks guidance from qualified religious authorities.