Shloka 64
शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma
Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare
कच्चित्ते ब्राह्मणा श्शर्म सर्वशास्त्रार्थकोविदाः।आशंसन्ते महाप्राज्ञ पौरजानपदैस्सह।।।।
kaccit te brāhmaṇāḥ śarma sarvaśāstrārthakovidāḥ | āśaṃsante mahāprājña paurajānapadaiḥ saha ||
Wahai yang maha bijaksana, adakah para Brahmana—yang mahir akan makna segala Śāstra—bersama warga kota dan penduduk desa, mendoakan kesejahteraan dan kebahagiaanmu?
I trust you eschew the fourteen faults of kings, like atheism, falsehood, anger, inattention, procrastination, evading the wise, indolence, gratification of all five senses, planning alone in the affairs of the kingdom, consultation with people who are proficient in worthless acts, failure to implement decisious, inability to keep the counsel secret and omission of auspicious practices and setting out against all the enemies at a time.
FAQs
A king’s legitimacy depends on dharmic approval: the learned (brāhmaṇas) and the people (urban and rural) should sincerely wish for the ruler’s welfare because he protects them with justice and truth.
The speaker assesses Bharata’s relationship with key social groups—religious scholars and the general populace—as part of guidance on governance.
Public-minded kingship: earning trust and blessings through righteous conduct.