Shloka 9

शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma

Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare

Devanagari script

स कच्चिद्ब्राह्मणो विद्वान् धर्मनित्यो महाद्युतिः।इक्ष्वाकूणामुपाध्यायो यथावत्तात पूज्यते।।।।

Transliteration

sa kaccid brāhmaṇo vidvān dharmanityo mahādyutiḥ | ikṣvākūṇām upādhyāyo yathāvat tāta pūjyate ||

Translation

Wahai anakku, aku percaya brahmana itu—berilmu, sentiasa teguh pada dharma, bercahaya mulia—guru bagi keturunan Ikṣvāku, dihormati dengan sewajarnya sebagaimana patut.

Word by Word

सःhe/that one

कच्चित्I hope

ब्राह्मणःthe brahmin

विद्वान्learned

धर्मनित्यःever devoted to dharma

महाद्युतिःof great splendor

इक्ष्वाकूणाम्of the Ikṣvākus

उपाध्यायःpreceptor

यथावत्properly/as usual

तातdear

पूज्यतेis honored

Context

O dear child! I trust, the family preceptor of the Ikshvakus, Vasistha, the brahmin (versed in the Vedas), who is learned, ever fixed in virtues and effulgent is being honoured as usual.

Characters & Entities

Ikṣvāku dynasty

Upādhyāya (family preceptor)

Vasiṣṭha (implied by traditional context)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is safeguarded by honoring the teacher and learned elders; reverence toward the guru sustains right counsel and social order.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma asks whether the dynasty’s spiritual-intellectual anchor (the preceptor) receives due respect in the kingdom.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for wisdom and disciplined maintenance of righteous institutions.