Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 100, Shloka 26
शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma
Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare
अमात्यानुपधातीतान्पितृपैतामहाञ्छुचीन्।श्रेष्ठांछ्रेष्ठेषुकच्चित्वं नियोजयसि कर्मसु।।।।
amātyān upadhātītān pitṛ-paitāmahāñ śucīn | śreṣṭhāñ śreṣṭheṣu kaccit tvaṃ niyojayasi karmasu ||
अमात्यान् उपधातीतान् पितृपैतामहान् शुचीन्, श्रेष्ठान् श्रेष्ठेषु कर्मसु कच्चित् त्वं नियोजयसि?
I hope you are assigning ministers, who are unyielding to bribery and other temptations, holding positions hereditarily and who are full of integrity and eminence, with superior tasks.
FAQs
Dharma demands integrity in public office: the highest duties must be entrusted to incorruptible and upright ministers, ensuring truthfulness (satya) and protection of the people.
Rāma continues his counsel on governance, focusing on appointing trustworthy ministers to top-level responsibilities.
Integrity and incorruptibility in administration—choosing officials resistant to bribery and loyal to righteous governance.