Shloka 54
शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma
Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare
आयस्ते विपुलः कच्चित्कच्चिदल्पतरो व्ययः।अपात्रेषु न ते कच्चित्कोशो गच्छति राघव।।।।
āyas te vipulaḥ kaccit kaccid alpataro vyayaḥ | apātreṣu na te kaccit kośo gacchati rāghava ||
Wahai Rāghava (Bharata), adakah hasil pendapatanmu melimpah dan perbelanjaanmu terkawal? Dan adakah engkau memastikan perbendaharaan diraja tidak dibazirkan kepada yang tidak layak?
O Bharata, I trust, your revenues are abundant and expenditure much less. I trust you do not give away your treasure to undeserving persons.
FAQs
A king’s dharma includes fiscal restraint and just distribution: wealth should be protected and used for worthy purposes, not wasted on unfit recipients.
Rama questions Bharata about the health of the kingdom’s administration, focusing on responsible governance and protection of state resources.
Rajadharma—prudence, integrity, and discernment in public finance and patronage.