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शततमः सर्गः · Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma
Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare
कच्चिच्चैत्यशतैर्जुष्ट स्सुनिविष्टजनाकुलः ।
देवस्थानैः प्रपाभिश्च तटाकैश्चोपशोभितः ॥४३॥
प्रहृष्टनरनारीकस्समाजोत्सवशोभितः ।
सुकृष्टसीमा पशुमान्हिंसाभिः परिवर्जितः ॥४४॥
अदेवमातृको रम्य श्श्वापदैः परिवर्जितः ।
परित्यक्तो भयैस्सर्वैः खनिभिश्चोपशोभितः ॥४५॥
विवर्जितो नरैः पापैर्मम पूर्वै स्सुरक्षितः ।
कच्चिज्जनपदस्स्फीतः सुखं वसति राघव ॥४६॥
kaccit caitya-śatair juṣṭaḥ suniviṣṭa-jana-ākulaḥ |
devasthānaiḥ prapābhiś ca taṭākaiś copaśobhitaḥ ||43||
prahṛṣṭa-nara-nārīkaḥ samāja-utsava-śobhitaḥ |
sukṛṣṭa-sīmā paśumān hiṃsābhiḥ parivarjitaḥ ||44||
adeva-mātṛko ramyaḥ śvāpadaiḥ parivarjitaḥ |
parityakto bhayaiḥ sarvaiḥ khanibhiś copaśobhitaḥ ||45||
vivarjito naraiḥ pāpaiḥ mama pūrvaiḥ surakṣitaḥ |
kaccij janapadaḥ sphītaḥ sukhaṃ vasati rāghava ||46||
भाई, मैं चाहता हूँ कि गाँव और शहर अच्छे से चल रहे हों। वहाँ बहुत मंदिर और पूजा की जगह हों। लोग वहाँ खुश रहते हों। पानी के लिए तालाब और कुआँ हों। लोग मेलों और त्योहारों में मस्त रहें। खेती अच्छी हो, गाय-बैल हों। कोई हिंसा न हो। जंगल के जानवर न आएँ। कोई डर न हो। कोयला और मिनरल्स मिलें। बुरे लोग शहर में न हों। हमारे पुरखों ने इस शहर को सेफ बनाया था।
O Bharata, my country which is marked with hundreds of sanctuaries near villages where life of the people is made comfortable, where there are shrines, water distribution facilities and tanks, which is well-ploughed and rich in cattle-wealth, free from violence and independent of rain. It is enchanting. It is safe from wild animals. With fears expelled, free from sinful people, adorned with mines and well-protected by my ancestors, it is prosperous and I hope people are living comfortably.
A king’s dharma includes public welfare infrastructure (water, reservoirs), safety, non-violence, and ensuring prosperity so subjects live without fear.
Rāma checks whether Bharata’s administration keeps the countryside safe, prosperous, and ethically ordered.
Compassionate statecraft: governance measured by the happiness, security, and moral health of ordinary people.
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
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