Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 100, Shloka 69
शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma
Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare
दशपञ्चचतुर्वर्गान्सप्तवर्गं च तत्त्वतः।अष्टवर्गं त्रिवर्गं च विद्यास्तिस्रश्च राघव।।2.100.68।।इन्द्रियाणां जयं बुद्ध्या षाड्गुण्यं दैवमानुषम्।कृत्यं विंशतिवर्गं च तथा प्रकृतिमण्डलम्।।2.100.69।।यात्रादण्डविधानं च द्वियोनी सन्धिविग्रहौ।कच्चिदेतान्महाप्राज्ञ यथावदनुमन्यसे।।2.100.70।।
indriyāṇāṃ jayaṃ buddhyā ṣāḍguṇyaṃ daiva-mānuṣam |
kṛtyaṃ viṃśati-vargaṃ ca tathā prakṛti-maṇḍalam ||
yātrā-daṇḍa-vidhānaṃ ca dvi-yonī sandhi-vigrahau |
kaccid etān mahāprājña yathāvad anumanyase ||
ਹੇ ਮਹਾਪ੍ਰਾਜ্ঞ, ਕੀ ਤੂੰ ਬੁੱਧੀ ਨਾਲ ਇੰਦ੍ਰੀਆਂ ਉੱਤੇ ਜਯ, ਦੈਵ ਅਤੇ ਮਾਨੁਸ਼ ਕਾਰਣਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਉੱਠਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਉਪਦ੍ਰਵਾਂ ਦਾ ਵਿਵੇਕ, ਾਡਗੁਣ੍ਯ ਨੀਤੀ, ਕਰਤਵ੍ਯ-ਰੂਪ ਰਾਜਕਰਮ ਅਤੇ ਵਿਂਸ਼ਤਿਵਰਗ, ਅਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਕ੍ਰਿਤੀ-ਮੰਡਲ—ਇਹ ਸਭ ਯਥਾਵਤ ਅਪਣਾਂਦਾ ਹੈਂ? ਅਤੇ ਯਾਤਰਾ ਤੇ ਦੰਡ-ਵਿਧਾਨ ਦੀ ਠੀਕ ਵਿਵਸਥਾ ਕਰ ਕੇ, ਸੰਧਿ ਅਤੇ ਵਿਗ੍ਰਹ (ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਯੁੱਧ) ਦੇ ਦੋਹਾਂ ਮਾਰਗਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਕੀ ਤੂੰ ਯੋਗ੍ਯ ਰੂਪ ਨਾਲ ਵਰਤਦਾ ਹੈਂ?
O Bharata, my country which is marked with hundreds of sanctuaries near villages where life of the people is made comfortable, where there are shrines, water distribution facilities and tanks, which is wellploughed and rich in cattlewealth, free from violence and independent of rain. It is enchanting. It is safe from wild animals. With fears expelled, free from sinful people, adorned with mines and wellprotected by my ancestors, it is prosperous and I hope people are living comfortably.
FAQs
Ethical governance begins with self-mastery (indriya-jaya) and proceeds through disciplined, knowledge-based statecraft—justice, diplomacy, and war only when righteous and necessary.
Rāma tests Bharata’s preparedness to rule by asking whether he follows classical principles of governance, punishment, diplomacy, and strategic decision-making.
Prudence and restraint: wisdom that controls impulses and applies power (daṇḍa) and diplomacy (sandhi) with discernment.