Valmiki Ramayana 1.7.9 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 9

अमात्य-गुणवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

कोशसङ्ग्रहणे युक्ता बलस्य च परिग्रहे ।अहितं चापि पुरुषं न विहिंस्युरदूषकम् ।।।।

Transliteration

kośa-saṅgrahaṇe yuktā balasya ca parigrahe | ahitaṃ cāpi puruṣaṃ na vihiṃsyur adūṣakam ||

Translation

Mereka mahir menghimpun perbendaharaan dan memelihara bala tentara; namun mereka tidak akan menyakiti bahkan orang yang berniat buruk, bila ia tidak bersalah.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्म: brāhmaṇas (the priestly class)
• ब्रह्म: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• क्षत्रम्: kṣatriyas (the warrior class)
• क्षत्रम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• अहिंसन्तः: not harming
• अहिंसन्तः: विशेषण (of ते)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + हिंस् (धातु) → अहिंसत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकर्तरि कृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• कोशम्: treasury
• कोशम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• समपूरयन्: filled / replenished
• समपूरयन्: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूरय् (धातु; causative of √पॄ/पूर्)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• सुतीक्ष्ण-दण्डाः: having very sharp punishment / strict in punishment
• सुतीक्ष्ण-दण्डाः: विशेषण (of ते)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + तीक्ष्ण + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक; सुतीक्ष्णदण्ड)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: सुतीक्ष्णः दण्डः येषाम्; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• संप्रेक्ष्य: having examined
• संप्रेक्ष्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Gerundial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + प्र + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action)

• पुरुषस्य: of a person
• पुरुषस्य: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• बल-अबलम्: strength and weakness
• बल-अबलम्: कर्म (Object of संप्रेक्ष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल + अबल (प्रातिपदिक; बलाबल)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (copulative): बलं च अबलं च; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

Context

They were experts in replenishing the exchequer and in collecting the army. They never inflicted any punishment even on those who were not their well-wishers, if they did not commit any offence.

Characters & Entities

• treasury (kośa)
• army (bala)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires punishment to be fault-based: even a hostile person should not be harmed if innocent (adūṣaka).

What is the narrative situation?

The text continues listing ministerial virtues—economic strength and military readiness governed by justice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Restraint and commitment to due process rather than revenge.