Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 100, Shloka 62

शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma

Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare

Devanagari script

कच्चिदर्थेन वा धर्ममर्थं धर्मेण वा पुनः।उभौ वा प्रीतिलोभेन कामेन च न बाधसे।।।।

Transliteration

kaccid arthena vā dharmam arthaṃ dharmeṇa vā punaḥ | ubhau vā prītilobhena kāmena ca na bādhase ||

Translation

ମୁଁ ଆଶା କରେ, ତୁମେ ଧନ ପାଇଁ ଧର୍ମକୁ, କିମ୍ବା ଧର୍ମ ପାଇଁ ଧନକୁ—ଅଥବା ଉଭୟକୁ—ସୁଖଲୋଭ ଓ କାମନାର ବଶରେ ପଡ଼ି କେବେ ବି ନଷ୍ଟ କରୁନାହଁ।

Word by Word

• kaccit: I hope; is it the case that...?
• kaccit: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kaccit (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative particle

• arthena: by wealth/advantage
• arthena: Karaṇa (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental), Ekavacana

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (vikalpa/विकल्प)

• dharmam: dharma, righteousness
• dharmam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative), Ekavacana

• artham: wealth/interest
• artham: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• dharmeṇa: by dharma
• dharmeṇa: Karaṇa (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental), Ekavacana

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle

• punaḥ: again, conversely
• punaḥ: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)

• ubhau: both (artha and dharma)
• ubhau: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative), Dvivacana (Dual/द्विवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle

• prīti-lobhena: by desire for pleasure and greed
• prīti-lobhena: Karaṇa (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक) + lobha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) ‘prītiḥ ca lobhaḥ ca’; Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental), Ekavacana

• kāmena: by lust/desire
• kāmena: Karaṇa (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental), Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• na: not
• na: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• bādhase: you obstruct/violate
• bādhase: Kriyā (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bādh (बाध् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Madhyama puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana, Ātmanepada

Context

I trust, righteousness for the sake of prosperity or prosperity for the sake of righteousness or both for the sake of sensual pleasure are not thwarted by you.

Characters & Entities

• Dharma
• Artha
• Kāma

FAQs

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

A ruler must balance artha and dharma without letting kāma (self-indulgent desire) distort either; governance must be anchored in truth and self-control.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama cautions Bharata about the classic tension among puruṣārthas, urging him not to sacrifice righteousness or prosperity due to pleasure-seeking.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-mastery—discipline that prevents desire from corrupting policy, justice, and personal conduct.