Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 100, Shloka 19
शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma
Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare
कच्चिदर्थं विनिश्चित्य लघुमूलं महोदयम्।क्षिप्रमारभसे कर्तुं न दीर्घयसि राघव।।।।
kaccid arthaṃ viniścitya laghumūlaṃ mahodayam | kṣipram ārabhase kartuṃ na dīrghayasi rāghava ||
ਹੇ ਰਾਘਵ (ਭਰਤ)! ਜਦੋਂ ਤੂੰ ਅਰਥ ਨੂੰ ਨਿਸਚਿਤ ਕਰ ਲੈਂਦਾ ਹੈਂ—ਜੋ ਥੋੜ੍ਹੇ ਸਾਧਨਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਵੱਡਾ ਲਾਭ ਦੇਵੇ—ਕੀ ਤੂੰ ਉਸ ਕੰਮ ਨੂੰ ਤੁਰੰਤ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਕਰ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਹੈਂ? ਬੇਕਾਰ ਦੀ ਦੇਰੀ ਤਾਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰਦਾ?
O Bharata, having determined on an endeavour involving a little effort and yielding great results, I trust you commence to execute it quickly without procrastination?
FAQs
Dharma in governance includes timely, decisive action: once a beneficial policy is rightly judged, postponement becomes a moral and practical failure toward public welfare.
Rāma continues examining Bharata’s fitness to rule by asking whether he executes well-judged plans promptly.
Decisiveness and diligence (utsāha): acting promptly on sound judgment for the common good.