तापसाश्रममण्डलदर्शनम्
Entering Dandaka and Meeting the Sages
इन्द्रस्येह चतुर्भागः प्रजा रक्षति राघव।राजा तस्माद्वरान्भोगान्रम्यान् भुङक्तेलोकनमस्कृतः।।।।
indrasyeha caturbhāgaḥ prajā rakṣati rāghava | rājā tasmād varān bhogān ramyān bhuṅkte lokanamaskṛtaḥ ||
ข้าแต่ราฆวะ ในโลกนี้กล่าวกันว่าพระราชามีส่วนหนึ่งในสี่แห่งฤทธิ์ของพระอินทร์ เพราะทรงคุ้มครองปวงประชา ฉะนั้นโลกจึงนอบน้อมสรรเสริญ และพระองค์ย่อมเสวยผลอันประเสริฐรื่นรมย์
O Rama, in this world a king is considered the fourth part of Indra as he protects the people. Therefore, he is respected and he enjoys the choicest pleasures of life.
Legitimacy through protection: a king’s honor and prosperity are ethically grounded in safeguarding the subjects (prajā-rakṣaṇa), aligning power with responsibility.
The sages continue their discourse on rājadharma, explaining why kings are revered and enjoy privileges—because they protect society.
Protective leadership: the ideal ruler earns reverence not by birth alone but by steadfast guardianship of the people and commitment to dharma.