शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma
Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare
कच्चिद्धृष्टश्च शूरश्च मतिमान् धृतिमान् शुचिः।कुलीनश्चानुरक्तश्च दक्षस्सेनापतिः कृतः।।।।
kaccid dhṛṣṭaś ca śūraś ca matimān dhṛtimān śuciḥ |
kulīnaś cānuraktaś ca dakṣaḥ senāpatiḥ kṛtaḥ ||
ధైర్యవంతుడూ శూరుడూ, బుద్ధిమంతుడూ ధృతిమంతుడూ, శుచిత్వముగలవాడూ, కులీనుడూ, భక్తితో అనురక్తుడూ, దక్షుడూ అయినవానిని సేనాపతిగా నియమించితివా?
I trust you have appointed a man who is cheerful, brave, sagacious, steadfast, honest, of a good family, loyal and efficient as the army chief.
Dharma in administration emphasizes right appointment (yogya-niyoga): public safety depends on placing qualified, loyal, and morally upright leaders in command.
Rāma asks Bharata about key institutional choices—specifically, whether the military leadership has been entrusted to a worthy person.
Merit-based leadership and loyalty: competence must be joined with integrity and devotion to the ruler’s lawful aims.