Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 100, Shloka 41
शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma
Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare
वीरैरध्युषितां पूर्वमस्माकं तात पूर्वकैः।सत्यनामां दृढ द्वारां हस्त्यश्वरथसङ्कुलाम्।।2.100.40।।ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्रियैर्वैश्यै स्स्वकर्मनिरतैस्सदा।जितेन्द्रियैर्महोत्साहैर्वृतामार्यै स्सहस्रशः।।2.100.41।।प्रासादैर्विविधाकारैर्वृतां वैद्यजनाकुलाम्।कच्चित्सुमुदितां स्फीतामयोध्यां परिरक्षसि।।2.100.42।।
kaccic caityaśatair juṣṭaḥ suniviṣṭajanākulaḥ | devāstānaiḥ prapābhiś ca taṭākaiś copaśobhitaḥ ||
prahṛṣṭanaranārīkaḥ samājotsavaśobhitaḥ | sukṛṣṭasīmā paśumān hiṃsābhiḥ parivarjitaḥ ||
adevamātṛko ramyaḥ śvāpadaiḥ parivarjitaḥ | parityakto bhayaiḥ sarvaiḥ khanibhiś copaśobhitaḥ ||
vivarjito naraiḥ pāpair mama pūrvaiḥ surakṣitaḥ | kaccij janapadaḥ sphītaḥ sukhaṃ vasati rāghava ||
罗伽婆啊，乡邦可安乐而昌盛——遍布百座圣祠，聚落安稳、人民充盈；以神庙、施水之所与池塘点缀；集会庆典辉映，男女欢欣；田界耕治精良，牛畜丰足，远离暴害；境土可爱，不仰赖雨水，亦无野兽侵扰；诸般恐惧尽除，又以矿藏增辉；并且摒除罪恶之人，如我先祖之时那般严密守护吗？
My dear brother I trust you are protecting the (impregnable) city of Ayodhya worthy of its name, formerly defended by our heroic ancestors, with its sturdy gates, its elephants, horses and chariots, its thousands of venerable, selfcontrolled and highly energetic brahmins, kshatriyas and vaisyas engaged in their respective professions, filled with palaces of various kinds, abounding in learned people and a prosperous city where everything is available in abundance.
FAQs
The king’s dharma includes public welfare: safety from fear, freedom from violence, reliable water and resources, and moral cleanliness (keeping out ‘sinful’ disruptors).
Rāma audits Bharata’s governance by asking about the condition of the wider realm—its infrastructure, security, prosperity, and ethical health.
Lokasaṅgraha (holding society together): ensuring festivals, agriculture, security, and moral order so people live happily.