Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 100, Shloka 23
शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma
Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare
सहस्राण्यपि मूर्खाणां युद्युपास्ते महीपतिः।अथवाप्ययुतान्येव नास्ति तेषु सहायता।।।।
sahasrāṇy api mūrkhāṇāṃ yady upāste mahīpatiḥ | athavāpy ayutāny eva nāsti teṣu sahāyatā ||
सहस्राण्यपि मूर्खाणां यदि महीपतिरुपास्ते, अथवा अयुतान्येव; तेषु किञ्चित् सहायता न विद्यते।
Even if the king seeks the assistance from thousands or tens of thousands of fools, they cannot render any help to him.
FAQs
Dharma in administration requires discernment: numbers without competence become a burden, not support, and can mislead a ruler away from truth and right action.
Rāma reinforces his teaching on counsel by contrasting the futility of many foolish advisors with the value of true wisdom.
Discrimination (viveka): choosing capability over popularity.