Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 17
शतानन्दोपदेशः
Śatānanda’s Welcome to Rāma and the Prelude to Viśvāmitra’s History
राजाऽभूदेष धर्मात्मा दीर्घकालमरिन्दम:।धर्मज्ञ: कृतविद्यश्च प्रजानां च हिते रत:।।।।
rājā ’bhūd eṣa dharmātmā dīrgha-kālam arindamaḥ | dharmajñaḥ kṛta-vidyaś ca prajānāṁ ca hite rataḥ ||
ព្រះរាជាដ៏មានព្រះហឫទ័យធម៌នេះ បានគ្រងរាជ្យយូរអង្វែង ជាអ្នកបង្ក្រាបសត្រូវ; ជាអ្នកដឹងធម៌ បណ្តុះបណ្តាលក្នុងវិជ្ជា ហើយឧស្សាហ៍ព្យាយាមដើម្បីសុខមង្គលរបស់ប្រជារាស្ត្រ។
This righteous-minded sage, subduer of enemies, knower of dharma knowledgeable inall branches of learning, devoted to the welfare of his subjects ruled as a king for long.
FAQs
Dharma is presented as rāja-dharma: the king’s legitimacy rests on righteousness, learning, protection from enemies, and active commitment to the people’s welfare.
Śatānanda begins Viśvāmitra’s biography by describing his earlier phase as a capable and dharmic ruler before his later ascetic transformation.
Viśvāmitra’s public-mindedness: governance oriented toward prajā-hita (the good of subjects), showing that power is meant for protection and welfare, not self-indulgence.