Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 100, Shloka 22

शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma

Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare

Devanagari script

कच्चित्सहस्रान्मूर्खाणामेकमिच्छसि पण्डितम्।पण्डितो ह्यर्थकृच्छ्रेषु कुर्यान्निश्रेयसं महत्।।।।

Transliteration

kaccit sahasrān mūrkhāṇām ekam icchasi paṇḍitam | paṇḍito hy artha-kṛcchreṣu kuryān niśreyasaṃ mahat ||

Translation

你是否舍弃千名愚人，而择取哪怕一位贤者？因为在艰难之时，贤者能成就大利，并引向至上的善与安稳。

Word by Word

• kaccit: I hope
• kaccit: Sentence particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kaccit (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative/hope particle

• sahasrāt: than a thousand
• sahasrāt: Apādāna (अपादान) / comparison point ('rather than from a thousand')
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsakaliṅga, Pañcamī (Ablative/5th), Ekavacana

• mūrkhāṇām: of fools
• mūrkhāṇām: Sambandha (genitive) with 'sahasrāt'
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive), Bahuvacana

• ekam: one (single)
• ekam: Viśeṣaṇa of 'paṇḍitam' (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies 'paṇḍitam'

• icchasi: you desire/choose
• icchasi: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Madhyama puruṣa, Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• paṇḍitam: a wise man
• paṇḍitam: Karma (object) of 'icchasi'
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṇḍita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• paṇḍitaḥ: a wise man
• paṇḍitaḥ: Kartā (subject) of 'kuryāt'
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṇḍita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sentence particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (emphasis)

• artha-kṛcchreṣu: in difficult situations
• artha-kṛcchreṣu: Adhikaraṇa (locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛcchra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsakaliṅga, Saptamī, Bahuvacana; samāsa: artheṣu kṛcchreṣu = 'in difficulties of affairs'

• kuryāt: would do/bring about
• kuryāt: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vidhiliṅ (Optative), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• niśreyasam: welfare, great good
• niśreyasam: Karma (object) of 'kuryāt'
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśreyasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• mahat: great
• mahat: Viśeṣaṇa of 'niśreyasam'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies 'niśreyasam'

Context

I hope by setting aside a thousand fools, you prefer a single wise man. A wise man will be of immense help in difficult situations.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Bharata

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma favors quality of counsel over quantity of followers: wise guidance protects truth, justice, and public welfare, especially under pressure.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma instructs Bharata on selecting advisors, stressing that wisdom outweighs numbers in governance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for wisdom (prajñā) and humility to rely on capable counsel rather than crowds.