Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 100, Shloka 62
शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma
Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare
कच्चिदर्थेन वा धर्ममर्थं धर्मेण वा पुनः।उभौ वा प्रीतिलोभेन कामेन च न बाधसे।।।।
kaccid arthena vā dharmam arthaṃ dharmeṇa vā punaḥ | ubhau vā prītilobhena kāmena ca na bādhase ||
ਮੈਨੂੰ ਆਸ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਤੂੰ ਧਨ ਲਈ ਧਰਮ ਨੂੰ, ਜਾਂ ਧਰਮ ਲਈ ਧਨ ਨੂੰ—ਅਥਵਾ ਦੋਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ—ਸੁਖ ਦੇ ਲੋਭ ਅਤੇ ਕਾਮਨਾ ਦੇ ਵਸ਼ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਕਦੇ ਵੀ ਨੁਕਸਾਨ ਨਹੀਂ ਪਹੁੰਚਾਂਦਾ।
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.
FAQs
A ruler must balance artha and dharma without letting kāma (self-indulgent desire) distort either; governance must be anchored in truth and self-control.
Rama cautions Bharata about the classic tension among puruṣārthas, urging him not to sacrifice righteousness or prosperity due to pleasure-seeking.
Self-mastery—discipline that prevents desire from corrupting policy, justice, and personal conduct.