Shloka 18
शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma
Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare
कच्चिन्मन्त्रयसे नैकः कच्चिन्न बहुभिस्सह।कच्चित्ते मन्त्रितो मन्त्रो राष्ट्रं न परिधावति।।।।
kaccin mantrayase naikaḥ kaccin na bahubhiḥ saha | kaccit te mantrito mantro rāṣṭraṃ na paridhāvati ||
Wahai raja yang mulia, adakah engkau tidak bermusyawarah seorang diri semata-mata, dan tidak pula berunding dengan terlalu ramai sekaligus? Dan apabila suatu dasar telah engkau tetapkan, adakah ia terpelihara rapi, tidak tersebar ke seluruh negeri?
I hope you neither decide alone nor discuss with many. I trust a decision once made by you is not leaked in the kingdom.
FAQs
Rajadharma requires balanced counsel—neither autocratic isolation nor indiscriminate consultation—and the ethical restraint to protect sensitive decisions from becoming public rumor that can harm the state.
After meeting Bharata, Rāma questions him about his governance, offering practical tests of good kingship—how he consults and whether decisions remain secure.
Prudence (nīti) and self-control: the ruler must seek wise counsel appropriately and maintain confidentiality for the welfare of the kingdom.