Shloka 43
शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma
Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare
कच्चिच्चैत्यशतैर्जुष्ट स्सुनिविष्टजनाकुलः।देवस्थानैः प्रपाभिश्च तटाकैश्चोपशोभितः।।।।प्रहृष्टनरनारीकस्समाजोत्सवशोभितः।सुकृष्टसीमा पशुमान्हिंसाभिः परिवर्जितः।।।।अदेवमातृको रम्य श्श्वापदैः परिवर्जितः।परित्यक्तो भयैस्सर्वैः खनिभिश्चोपशोभितः।।।।विवर्जितो नरैः पापैर्मम पूर्वै स्सुरक्षितः।कच्चिज्जनपदस्स्फीतः सुखं वसति राघव।।।।
kaccic caityaśatair juṣṭaḥ suniviṣṭajanākulaḥ | devāstānaiḥ prapābhiś ca taṭākaiś copaśobhitaḥ ||
prahṛṣṭanaranārīkaḥ samājotsavaśobhitaḥ | sukṛṣṭasīmā paśumān hiṃsābhiḥ parivarjitaḥ ||
adevamātṛko ramyaḥ śvāpadaiḥ parivarjitaḥ | parityakto bhayaiḥ sarvaiḥ khanibhiś copaśobhitaḥ ||
vivarjito naraiḥ pāpair mama pūrvaiḥ surakṣitaḥ | kaccij janapadaḥ sphītaḥ sukhaṃ vasati rāghava ||
Wahai Rāghava, adakah wilayah desa itu makmur dan tenteram—dipenuhi ratusan caitya (tempat suci), tersusun baik dan padat penduduk; dihiasi kuil-kuil, prapā (tempat sedekah air) dan kolam; berseri oleh perayaan dan keramaian, lelaki dan wanita bergembira; sempadannya dibajak rapi, ternakan melimpah, bebas daripada kekerasan; indah, tidak bergantung pada hujan, jauh daripada binatang buas; segala ketakutan telah lenyap, lagi dihiasi lombong-lombong; dijauhkan daripada manusia berdosa dan terpelihara seperti pada zaman leluhurku?
My dear brother I trust you are protecting the (impregnable) city of Ayodhya worthy of its name, formerly defended by our heroic ancestors, with its sturdy gates, its elephants, horses and chariots, its thousands of venerable, selfcontrolled and highly energetic brahmins, kshatriyas and vaisyas engaged in their respective professions, filled with palaces of various kinds, abounding in learned people and a prosperous city where everything is available in abundance.
FAQs
The king’s dharma includes public welfare: safety from fear, freedom from violence, reliable water and resources, and moral cleanliness (keeping out ‘sinful’ disruptors).
Rāma audits Bharata’s governance by asking about the condition of the wider realm—its infrastructure, security, prosperity, and ethical health.
Lokasaṅgraha (holding society together): ensuring festivals, agriculture, security, and moral order so people live happily.