Valmiki Ramayana 1.7.5-6: Bala Kanda, Sarga 7, Shlokas 5-6
अमात्य-गुणवर्णनम्
The Virtues of Daśaratha’s Ministers and the Order of Governance
विद्याविनीता ह्रीमन्तः कुशला नियतेन्द्रियाः ।
श्रीमन्तश्च महात्मानश्शास्त्रज्ञा दृढविक्रमाः ॥५॥
कीर्तिमन्तः प्रणिहिताः यथावचनकारिणः ।
तेजः क्षमायशःप्राप्ता स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषिणः ॥६॥
vidyāvinītā hrīmantaḥ kuśalā niyatendriyāḥ |
śrīmantaśca mahātmānaśśāstrajñā dṛḍhavikramāḥ ||5||
kīrtimantaḥ praṇihitāḥ yathāvacanakāriṇaḥ |
tejaḥ kṣamāyaśaḥprāptā smitapūrvābhibhāṣiṇaḥ ||6||
वो सब पढ़े-लिखे थे और सीख के आए थे। बुरा काम करने में शर्म आती थी उन्हें। काम में माहिर थे, अपने ऊपर कंट्रोल रखते थे। दौलतमंद थे, बड़े दिल वाले थे। शास्त्रों का ज्ञान था, हिम्मत में पक्के थे। नाम था उनका, कान में रहते थे, जो बोलते थे वो करते थे। चमक थी उनमें, गुस्सा नहीं करते थे, इज़्ज़त में थे, मुस्कुरा के बात करते थे।
They were well-educated in all branches of knowledge and deemed unjust acts shameful. They were renowned, proficient, versed in sastras, wealthy and magnanimous. They had their senses restrained and their deeds were in accordance with their words. They acted with determination. They were brilliant, forgiving and reputed. And always spoke with a smile.
FAQs
The same dharmic ideal is reinforced through repetition: ethical governance depends on inner discipline and satya—speech and action must match.
A textual feature of the Southern Recension: the description of ministerial virtues is carried over with verse markers, emphasizing the court’s dharmic foundation.
Reliability and moral polish: self-control, truthfulness in conduct, and courteous communication.
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