Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 9
ऋश्यशृङ्गानयनकथा — The Account of Bringing Ṛśyaśṛṅga
and the Remedy for Drought
अनावृष्ट्यां तु वृत्तायां राजा दु:खसमन्वित:।ब्राह्मणान्श्रुतवृद्धांश्च समानीय प्रवक्ष्यति।। ।।
anāvṛṣṭyāṃ tu vṛttāyāṃ rājā duḥkha-samanvitaḥ | brāhmaṇān śruta-vṛddhāṃś ca samānīya pravakṣyati ||
ເມື່ອເກີດຄວາມແຫ້ງແລ້ງບໍ່ມີຝົນ ພະຣາຊາຜູ້ເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍຄວາມໂສກ ໄດ້ເຊີນພວກພຣາຫມັນ ແລະຜູ້ເຖົ້າຜູ້ຄວນເຄົາລົບດ້ວຍສຣຸຕິແລະວິຊາ ມາຊຸມນຸມ ແລ້ວຕຣັດຖາມເພື່ອຂໍຄໍາປຶກສາ.
With drought prevailing, the grief-stricken king, would summon all those grown old with learning and tell them.
FAQs
Rajadharma: in public calamity (like drought), a ruler should seek guidance from learned and virtuous elders rather than act impulsively; governance is grounded in consultation with dharmic authority.
A drought prevails, producing distress in the kingdom; the king responds by convening brāhmaṇas and learned elders to deliberate and decide the proper course.
Humility and responsibility in leadership—recognizing limits, valuing śāstra-informed counsel, and prioritizing the welfare of subjects.