Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 100, Shloka 29
शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma
Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare
उपायकुशलं वैद्यं भृत्यसंदूषणे रतम्।शूरमैश्वर्यकामं च यो न हन्ति स हन्यते।।।।
upāya-kuśalaṁ vaidyaṁ bhṛtya-saṁdūṣaṇe ratam |
śūram aiśvarya-kāmaṁ ca yo na hanti sa hanyate ||
若有人虽有学识却善于权谋，乐于败坏臣仆，又虽勇猛却贪恋权势；君王若不将此人诛除，终将自取灭亡。
Born in the race of Raghu, Rama embraced Bharata and kissed him on his forehead. Placing him on his lap, he enquired thus with a composed mind:
FAQs
Protective justice is part of rāja-dharma: subversive agents who poison loyalty and seek power through deceit must be restrained decisively, or the realm and ruler collapse.
Rāma gives Bharata stern counsel on state security—warning against internal conspirators who manipulate servants and destabilize kingship.
Vigilance and firmness in governance: compassion must be balanced with the duty to protect the polity from corrosive betrayal.