Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 100 of 119 · 77 verses
“I Hope…”: Rama’s Questions on Kingship
Rama sees Bharata, with matted hair, in rags, palms joined, fallen on the ground, hard to look at, like the sun at the end of an age. Barely recognising his brother, pale-faced and thin, Rama takes him in his arms, kisses his head, embraces him, sets him on his lap and asks him calmly: “Where was your father, dear brother, that you have come to the forest? You should not come to the forest while he lives. After a long time I see Bharata come from far away, hard to recognise in this forest. Why have you come, dear one? Is the king alive, that you have come here? Has the king, in his misery, suddenly gone to the other world? I hope your eternal kingdom has not been lost, gentle one, because you are young? I hope you serve our father, true in valour? Is King Dasharatha well, true to his promise, performer of the Rajasuya and Ashvamedha, firm in dharma?”
Then, without waiting for answers, Rama asks a long series of questions about how Bharata is ruling, each beginning with “I hope”: that the learned family teacher of the Ikshvakus is honoured; that Kausalya, Sumitra and the noble Queen Kaikeyi are happy; that his family priest is well treated; that his fire-priest is attentive; that he honours gods, ancestors, mothers, elders, the old, physicians and brahmanas; that he respects the archery teacher Sudhanvan; that his ministers are brave, learned, self-controlled, well-born and able to read signs, for counsel kept secret is the root of a king’s victory; that he does not oversleep but wakes on time and thinks over policy in the last part of the night; that he takes counsel neither alone nor with too many, and that his decisions do not leak out to the kingdom; that he acts quickly on plans of small cost and great gain; that other kings learn of his works only when they are done; that he values one wise man above a thousand fools, for one wise, brave, able minister can bring a king great fortune, while thousands of fools are no help; that he employs the best servants in the highest tasks, the middling in the middle, the lowest in the lowest; that he appoints honest hereditary ministers to the most important work; that his subjects are not terrified by harsh punishments; that the priests do not despise him as a fallen man, or women a lustful one; that he knows a cunning physician, a servant who corrupts others, and a brave man greedy for power must be killed, or they will kill the king; that his commander is bold, brave, wise, steady, honest, high-born, loyal and able; that he honours his brave, tested captains; that he pays the army’s rations and wages on time, since delay makes soldiers angry and disloyal; that the leading nobles are devoted to him and will lay down their lives for him; that his envoy is a learned, clever, ready-witted local who reports exactly; that he watches the eighteen officials of the enemy and fifteen of his own side through spies unknown to one another; that he never underestimates enemies he has driven away; that he does not consort with materialist brahmanas, clever only at harm, foolish men who think themselves wise and twist reason against the chief books of dharma; that he protects prosperous, happy Ayodhya, home of their heroic ancestors, with its strong gates, crowded with elephants, horses and chariots, filled with brahmanas, kshatriyas and vaishyas at their work, with palaces and physicians; that the countryside flourishes, with its hundreds of shrines, temples, water-stalls and tanks, its happy men and women, festivals, well-ploughed fields and cattle, free of violence, not dependent on rain alone, free of wild beasts and fears, rich in mines and free of wicked men; that farmers and herdsmen are dear to him, since the world prospers through agriculture and trade, and that he protects them; that he comforts the women and guards them, but does not trust them with secrets; that the elephant forests are guarded and he has enough cows, elephants and horses; that he shows himself every morning, adorned, to the people on the royal road; that his workers are neither all in his sight nor all left alone, but kept by a middle way; that all his forts are full of wealth, grain, weapons, water, machines, craftsmen and archers; that his income is large and his spending small, and that his treasury does not go to the unworthy but to gods, ancestors, brahmanas, guests, soldiers and friends; that an honest, innocent man falsely accused of theft is not punished out of greed without examination by experts, and that a thief caught in the act, questioned and proven guilty is not let go for a bribe; that his learned ministers judge disputes between rich and poor without bias, for the tears of those falsely condemned destroy the sons and cattle of a ruler who rules for pleasure; that he wins over the old, the young and the chief physicians by gifts, kindness and words; that he bows to elders, ascetics, gods, guests, shrines and brahmanas; that he does not let wealth injure dharma, or dharma wealth, or pleasure both, but divides his time among all three; that brahmanas, citizens and country people wish him well; that he avoids the fourteen faults of kings: atheism, falsehood, anger, carelessness, procrastination, avoiding the wise, laziness, slavery to the five senses, deciding policy alone, taking counsel with the ignorant, failing to act on decisions, failing to keep counsel secret, neglecting auspicious rites, and rising to greet everyone; that he understands the ten, the five, the four, the seven, the eight and the three groups, the three sciences, mastery of the senses, the six policies, fate and human effort, the twenty kinds of enemy, the circle of states, expeditions, the use of force, and the two sources of peace and war; that he consults three or four ministers, together and separately; that his Vedas, rites, marriage and learning bear fruit; that he follows the good path of their father and great-grandfathers; that he does not eat good food alone but shares it with friends who hope for it. “A wise king who protects his subjects by dharma, bearing the rod of justice, having rightly won the whole earth, goes to heaven when he passes from here.”
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जटिलं चीरवसनं प्राञ्जलिं पतितं भुवि । ददर्श रामो दुर्दर्शं युगान्ते भास्करं यथा ॥ १ ॥
Rama saw him with matted hair, dressed in rags, palms joined, fallen on the ground, hard to look at, like the sun at the end of an age.
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“I Hope…”: Rama’s Questions on Kingship 1 min read.
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कथञ्चिदभिविज्ञाय विवर्णवदनं कृशम् । भ्रातरं भरतं रामः परिजग्राह बाहुना ॥ २ ॥
Recognising with difficulty his brother Bharata, pale-faced and thin, Rama took him in his arms.
आघ्राय रामस्तं मूर्ध्नि परिष्वज्य च राघवः । अङ्के भरतमारोप्य पर्यपृच्छत् समाहितः ॥ ३ ॥
Kissing him on the head and embracing him, Rama Raghava set Bharata on his lap and questioned him calmly:
क्व नु ते ऽभूत् पिता तात यदरण्यं त्वमागतः । न हि त्वं जीवतस्तस्य वनमागन्तुमर्हसि ॥ ४ ॥
“Where was your father, dear one, that you have come to the forest? You ought not to come to the forest while he is alive.
चिरस्य बत पश्यामि दूराद्भरतमागतम् । दुष्प्रतीकमरण्ये ऽस्मिन् किं तात वनमागतः ॥ ५ ॥
“After a long time, alas, I see Bharata come from far away. Hard to recognise in this forest, why have you come to the forest, dear one?
कच्चिद्धारयते तात राजा यत्त्वमिहागतः । कच्चिन्न दीनः सहसा राजा लोकान्तरं गतः ॥ ६ ॥
“Is the king alive, dear one, since you have come here? Has the king, in his wretchedness, not suddenly gone to the other world?
कच्चित् सौम्य न ते राज्यं भ्रष्टं बालस्य शाश्वतम् ॥ ७ ॥
“I hope your eternal kingdom has not been lost, gentle one, because you are young?
कच्चिच्छुश्रूषसे तात पितरं सत्यविक्रमम् ॥ ८ ॥
“I hope you serve our father, dear one, true in valour?
कच्चिद्दशरथो राजा कुशली सत्यसङ्गरः । राजसूयाश्वमेधानामाहर्त्ता धर्मनिश्चयः ॥ ९ ॥
“Is King Dasharatha well, true to his promise, performer of the Rajasuya and Ashvamedha, firm in dharma?
स कच्चिद् ब्राह्मणो विद्वान् धर्मनित्यो महाद्युतिः । इक्ष्वाकूणामुपाध्यायो यथावत्तात पूज्यते ॥ १० ॥
“Is that brahmana, learned, ever devoted to dharma, of great splendour, the teacher of the Ikshvakus, duly honoured, dear one?
सा तात कच्चित्कौसल्या सुमित्रा च प्रजावती । सुखिनी कच्चिदार्य्या च देवी नन्दति कैकयी ॥ ११ ॥
“Are Kausalya, dear one, and Sumitra, mother of fine children, happy? And is the noble Queen Kaikeyi rejoicing?
कच्चिद्विनयसम्पन्नः कुलपुत्रो बहुश्रुतः । अनसूयुरनुद्रष्टा सत्कृतस्ते पुरोहितः ॥ १२ ॥
“Is your family priest, endowed with discipline, of good family, deeply learned, free of envy, watchful, honoured?
कच्चिदग्निषु ते युक्तो विधिज्ञो मतिमानृजुः । हुतं च होष्यमाणं च काले वेदयते सदा ॥ १३ ॥
“Does your priest for the fires, knowing the rites, wise and upright, always tell you at the right time what has been offered and what is to be offered?
कच्चिद्देवान् पितऽन् मातऽर्गुरून् पितृसमानपि । वृद्धांश्च तत वैद्यांश्च ब्राह्मणांश्चाभिमन्यसे ॥ १४ ॥
“Do you honour the gods, the ancestors, your mothers, your teachers and those like fathers, the old, dear one, physicians and brahmanas?
इष्वस्त्रवरसम्पन्नमर्थशास्त्रविशारदम् । सुधन्वानमुपाध्यायं कच्चित्त्वं तात मन्यसे ॥ १५ ॥
“Do you respect, dear one, the teacher Sudhanvan, master of the finest arrows and missiles, expert in the science of statecraft?
कच्चिदात्मसमाः शूराः श्रुतवन्तो जितेन्द्रियाः । कुलीनाश्चेङ्गितज्ञाश्च कृतास्ते तात मन्त्रिणः ॥ १६ ॥
“Have you made as your ministers, dear one, men like yourself, brave, learned, masters of their senses, well-born, able to read signs?
मन्त्रो विजयमूलं हि राज्ञां भवति राघव । सुसंवृतो मन्त्रधरैरमात्यैः शास्त्रकोविदैः ॥ १७ ॥
“For counsel is the root of victory for kings, Raghava, when well kept secret by ministers who hold counsel, skilled in the shastras.
कच्चिन्निद्रावशं नैषीः कच्चित्काले प्रबुध्यसे । कच्चिच्चापररात्रेषु चिन्तयस्यर्थनैपुणम् ॥ १८ ॥
“I hope you have not fallen under the power of sleep? I hope you wake at the proper time? And do you think over skilful policy in the last part of the night?
कच्चिन्मन्त्रयसे नैकः कच्चिन्न बहुभिः सह । कच्चित्ते मन्त्रितो मन्त्रो राष्ट्रं न परिधावति ॥ १९ ॥
“I hope you do not take counsel alone, nor with too many? I hope the counsel you have decided does not run through the kingdom?
कच्चिदर्थं विनिश्चित्य लघुमूलं महोदयम् । क्षिप्रमारभसे कर्त्तुं न दीर्घयसि राघव ॥ २० ॥
“Having decided on an undertaking of small cost and great gain, do you begin it quickly and not delay, Raghava?
कच्चित्ते सुकृतान्येव कृतरूपाणि वा पुनः । विदुस्ते सर्वकार्याणि न कर्त्तव्यानि पार्थिवाः ॥ २१ ॥
“Do the kings know all your undertakings only when they are well done or nearly done, and not while they are still to be done?
कच्चिन्न तर्कैर्युक्त्या वा ये चाप्यपरिकीर्तिताः । त्वया वा वा ऽमात्यैर्बुध्यते तात मन्त्रितम् ॥ २२ ॥
“I hope your counsel, dear one, is not found out by reasoning or by guesswork, by those not told of it, either through you or through your ministers?
कच्चित् सहस्रान् मूर्खाणामेकमिच्छसि पण्डितम् । पण्डितो ह्यर्थकृच्छ्रेषु कुर्य्यान्निःश्रेयसं महत् ॥ २३ ॥
“Do you wish for one wise man rather than thousands of fools? For a wise man can do great good in difficulties.
सहस्राण्यपि मूर्खाणां यद्युपास्ते महीपतिः । अथवाप्ययुतान्येव नास्ति तेषु सहायता ॥ २४ ॥
“Even if a lord of the earth keeps thousands of fools, or tens of thousands, there is no help in them.
एकोप्यमात्यो मेधावी शूरो दक्षो विचक्षणः । राजानं राजमात्रं वा प्रापयेन्महतीं श्रियम् ॥ २५ ॥
“Even one minister who is intelligent, brave, able and discerning can bring a king or a king’s son great fortune.
कच्चिन्मुख्या महत्स्वेव मध्यमेषु च मध्यमाः । जघन्यास्तु जघन्येषु भृत्याः कर्मसु योजिताः ॥ २६ ॥
“Have you employed the chief servants in great tasks, the middling in middle ones, and the lowest in low tasks?
अमात्यानुपधातीतान् पितृपैतामहाञ्छुचीन् । श्रेष्ठान् श्रेष्ठेषु कच्चित्त्वं नियोजयसि कर्मसु ॥ २७ ॥
“Do you appoint ministers who are beyond suspicion, hereditary, honest and the best, to the best tasks?
कच्चिन्नोग्रेण दण्डेन भृशमुद्वेजितप्रजम् । राष्ट्रं तवानुजानन्ति मन्त्रिणः कैकयीसुत ॥ २८ ॥
“I hope your ministers do not allow the kingdom to be terrified by harsh punishment, son of Kaikeyi?
कच्चित्त्वां नावजानन्ति याजकाः पतितं यथा । उग्रप्रतिग्रहीतारं कामयानमिव स्त्रियः ॥ २९ ॥
“I hope the sacrificial priests do not despise you, as they would a fallen man, or as women despise a man who takes by force and is lustful?
उपायकुशलं वैद्यं भृत्यसन्दूषणे रतम् । शूरमैश्वर्यकामं च यो न हन्ति स वध्यते ॥ ३० ॥
“The physician clever in stratagems, the servant devoted to corrupting others, and the brave man greedy for power: he who does not kill them is killed.
कच्चिद्धृष्टश्च शूरश्च मतिमान् धृतिमाञ्छुचिः । कुलीनश्चानुरक्तश्च दक्षः सेनापतिः कृतः ॥ ३१ ॥
“Have you made as commander of the army one who is bold, brave, wise, steady, honest, well-born, loyal and able?
बलवन्तश्च कच्चित्ते मुख्या युद्धविशारदाः । दृष्टापदाना विक्रान्तास्त्वया सत्कृत्य मानिताः ॥ ३२ ॥
“Are your chief warriors strong, skilled in war, of proven deeds, valiant, honoured and respected by you?
कच्चिद्बलस्य भक्तं च वेतनं च यथोचितम् । सम्प्राप्तकालं दातव्यं ददासि न विलम्बसे ॥ ३३ ॥
“Do you give the army its rations and wages as fitting, when they fall due, and not delay?
कालातिक्रमणाच्चैव भक्तवेतनयोर्भृताः । भर्त्तुः कुप्यन्ति दुष्यन्ति सो ऽनर्थः सुमहान् स्मृतः ॥ ३४ ॥
“For when the time for rations and wages passes, those supported become angry with their master and turn disloyal; that is held to be a very great evil.
कच्चित् सर्वे ऽनुरक्तास्त्वां कुलपुत्राः प्रधानतः । कच्चित्प्राणांस्तवार्थेषु सन्त्यजन्ति समाहिताः ॥ ३५ ॥
“Are all the nobles, the leading ones especially, devoted to you? Will they give up their lives for your cause, steadfast?
कच्चिज्जानपदो विद्वान् दक्षिणः प्रतिभानवान् । यथोक्तवादी दूतस्ते कृतो भरत पण्डितः ॥ ३६ ॥
“Have you made your envoy, Bharata, a learned man of the country, clever, quick-witted, who speaks exactly as told, and wise?
कच्चिदष्टादशान्येषु स्वपक्षे दश पञ्च च । त्रिभिस्त्रिभिरविज्ञातैर्वेत्सि तीर्थानि चारकैः ॥ ३७ ॥
“Do you know the eighteen officials among the others, and fifteen on your own side, through three spies at a time, unknown to each other?
कच्चिद्व्यपास्तानहितान् प्रतियातांश्च सर्वदा । दुर्बलाननवज्ञाय वर्त्तसे रिपुसूदन ॥ ३८ ॥
“Do you always behave without underestimating the weak enemies you have driven out and who have come back, slayer of enemies?
कच्चिन्न लोकायतिकान् ब्राह्मणांस्तात सेवसे । अनर्थकुशला ह्येते बालाः पण्डितमानिनः ॥ ३९ ॥
“I hope you do not serve materialist brahmanas, dear one? For they are skilled only in harm, childish, thinking themselves wise.
धर्मशास्त्रेषु मुख्येषु विद्यमानेषु दुर्बुधाः । बुद्धिमान्वीक्षिकीं प्राप्य निरर्थं प्रवदन्ति ते ॥ ४० ॥
“Though the chief books of dharma exist, those foolish ones, having got hold of logic, speak meaninglessly.
वीरैरध्युषितां पूर्वमस्माकं तात पूर्वकैः । सत्यनामां दृढद्वारां हस्त्यश्वरथसङ्कुलाम् ॥ ४१ ॥
ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्ऺित्रयैर्वैश्यैः स्वकर्मनिरतैः सदा । जितेन्द्रियैर्महोत्साहैर्वृतामार्यैः सहस्रशः ॥ ४२ ॥
प्रासादैर्विविधाकारैर्वृतां वैद्यजनाकुलाम् । कच्चित्सुमुदितां स्फीतामयोध्यां परिरक्षसि ॥ ४३ ॥
“Ayodhya, lived in long ago by our heroic forefathers, true to its name, with strong gates, crowded with elephants, horses and chariots, surrounded by brahmanas, kshatriyas and vaishyas always devoted to their own work, self-controlled, energetic, by noble men in thousands, surrounded by palaces of many shapes, crowded with learned men: do you protect it, happy and prosperous?
कच्चिच्चित्यशतैर्जुष्टः सुनिविष्टजनाकुलः । देवस्थानैः प्रपाभिश्च तटाकैश्चोपशोभितः ॥ ४४ ॥
प्रहृष्टनरनारीकः समाजोत्सवशोभितः । सुकृष्टसीमा पशुमान् हिंसाभिः परिवर्जितः ॥ ४५ ॥
अदेवमातृको रम्यः श्वापदैः परिवर्जितः । परित्यक्तो भयैः सर्वैः खनिभिश्चोपशोभितः ॥ ४६ ॥
विवर्जितो नरैः पापैर्मम पूर्वैः सुरक्षितः । कच्चिज्जनपदः स्फीतः सुखं वसति राघव ॥ ४७ ॥
“Is the countryside, frequented by hundreds of shrines, crowded with well-settled people, adorned with temples, water-stalls and tanks, with happy men and women, splendid with gatherings and festivals, with well-ploughed fields, rich in cattle, free from violence, not dependent on rain alone, lovely, free of beasts of prey, free of all fears, adorned with mines, free of wicked men, well protected by my forefathers: is it prosperous and living happily, Raghava?
कच्चित्ते दयिताः सर्वे कृषिगोरक्षजीविनः । वार्त्तायां संश्रितस्तात लोको हि सुखमेधते ॥ ४८ ॥
“Are all who live by farming and cattle dear to you? For the world, dear one, prospers happily when it depends on trade and agriculture.
तेषां गुप्तिपरीहारैः कच्चित्ते भरणं कृतम् । रक्ष्या हि राज्ञा धर्मेण सर्वे विषयवासिनः ॥ ४९ ॥
“Have you supported them with protection and remission? For all who live in the realm must be protected by the king with dharma.
कच्चित् स्त्रियः सान्त्वयसि कच्चित्ताश्च सुरक्षिताः । कच्चिन्न श्रद्दधास्यासां कच्चिद् गुह्यं न भाषसे ॥ ५० ॥
“Do you comfort the women, and are they well guarded? I hope you do not trust them, and do not tell them secrets?
कच्चिन्नागवनं गुप्तं कच्चित्ते सन्ति धेनुकाः । कच्चिन्न गणिकाश्वानां कुञ्जराणां च तृप्यसि ॥ ५१ ॥
“Is the elephant forest guarded? Do you have milch cows? I hope you are never satiated with collecting she-elephants, horses and elephants?
कच्चिद्दर्शयसे नित्यं मनुष्याणां विभूषितम् । उत्थायोत्थाय पूर्वाह्णे राजपुत्र महापथे ॥ ५२ ॥
“Do you show yourself, adorned, to the people every day, rising early in the forenoon, prince, on the great road?
कच्चिन्न सर्वे कर्मान्ताः प्रत्यक्षास्ते ऽविशङ्कया । सर्वे वा पुनरुत्सृष्टा मध्यमेवात्र कारणम् ॥ ५३ ॥
“I hope all your workers are not boldly in your presence, nor all left to themselves? The middle way is the right course here.
कच्चित् सर्वाणि दुर्गाणि धनधान्यायुधोदकैः । यन्त्रैश्च परिपूर्णानि तथा शिल्पिधनुर्द्धरै ॥ ५४ ॥
“Are all your forts filled with wealth, grain, weapons and water, with machines, and with craftsmen and archers?
आयस्ते विपुलः कच्चित् कच्चिदल्पतरो व्ययः । अपात्रेषु न ते कच्चित्कोशो गच्छति राघव ॥ ५५ ॥
“Is your income large, and your expenditure smaller? I hope your treasury does not go to the unworthy, Raghava?
देवतार्थे च पित्रर्थे ब्राह्मणाभ्यागतेषु च । योधेषु मित्रवर्गेषु कच्चिद्गच्छति ते व्ययः ॥ ५६ ॥
“Does your spending go to the gods and the ancestors, to brahmanas and guests, to warriors and to circles of friends?
कच्चिदार्य्यो विशुद्धात्मा ऽ ऽक्षारितश्चोरकर्मणा । अपृष्टः शास्त्रकुशलैर्न लोभाद्वध्यते शुचिः ॥ ५७ ॥
“I hope a noble man of pure mind, accused of theft, is not put to death out of greed without being examined by those skilled in the shastras, if he is innocent?
गृहीतश्चैव पृष्टश्च काले दृष्टः सकारणः । कच्चिन्न मुच्यते चोरो धनलोभान्नरर्षभ ॥ ५८ ॥
“And I hope a thief, caught, questioned, seen at the time with the cause, is not released out of greed for money, bull among men?
व्यसने कच्चिदाढ्यस्य दुर्गतस्य च राघव । अर्थं विरागाः पश्यन्ति तवामात्या बहुश्रुताः ॥ ५९ ॥
“In a dispute between a rich man and a poor one, Raghava, do your learned ministers look at the matter without bias?
यानि मिथ्याभिशस्तानां पतन्त्यस्राणि राघव । तानि पुत्रपशून् घ्नन्ति प्रीत्यर्थमनुशासतः ॥ ६० ॥
“The tears that fall from those falsely accused, Raghava, destroy the sons and cattle of one who rules for pleasure.
कच्चिद् वृद्धांश्च बालांश्च वैद्यमुख्यांश्च राघव । दानेन मनसा वाचा त्रिभिरेतैर्बुभूषसे ॥ ६१ ॥
“Do you seek to win the old, the young and the chief physicians, Raghava, by these three: gifts, kindness and words?
कच्चिद्गुरूंश्च वृद्धांश्च तापसान् देवतातिथीन् । चैत्यांश्च सर्वान् सिद्धार्थान् ब्राह्मणांश्च नमस्यसि ॥ ६२ ॥
“Do you bow to elders, the old, ascetics, gods and guests, to all the shrines, and to brahmanas who have attained their goal?
कच्चिदर्थेन वा धर्ममर्थं धर्मेण वा पुनः । उभौ वा प्रीतिलोभेन कामेन च न बाधसे ॥ ६३ ॥
“I hope you do not harm dharma by wealth, or wealth by dharma, or both by attachment, greed and desire?
कच्चिदर्थं च धर्मं च कामं च जयतां वर । विभज्य काले कालज्ञ सर्वान् वरद सेवसे ॥ ६४ ॥
“Best of victors, knower of time, giver of boons, do you serve wealth, dharma and pleasure, all three, dividing them by the time?
कच्चित्ते ब्राह्मणाः शर्म सर्वशास्त्रार्थकोविदाः । आशंसन्ते महाप्राज्ञ पौरजानपदैः सह ॥ ६५ ॥
“Do the brahmanas, learned in the meaning of all the shastras, with the citizens and country people, wish you happiness, very wise one?
नास्तिक्यमनृतं क्रोधं प्रमादं दीर्घसूत्रताम् । अदर्शनं ज्ञानवतामालस्यं पञ्चवृत्तिताम् ॥ ६६ ॥
एकचिन्तनमर्थानामनर्थज्ञैश्च मन्त्रणम् । निश्चितानामनारम्भं मन्त्रस्यापरिरक्षणम् ॥ ६७ ॥
मङ्गलस्याप्रयोगं च प्रत्युत्थानं च सर्वतः । कच्चित्त्वं वर्जयस्येतान् राजदोषांश्चतुर्दश ॥ ६८ ॥
“Atheism, falsehood, anger, carelessness, procrastination, not seeing the wise, laziness, being ruled by the five senses, thinking over affairs alone, taking counsel with those who do not understand affairs, not starting what has been decided, not keeping counsel secret, not performing auspicious rites, and rising to greet everyone: do you avoid these fourteen faults of kings?
दश पञ्च चतुर्वर्गान् सप्तवर्गं च तत्त्वतः । अष्टवर्गं त्रिवर्गं च विद्यास्तिस्रश्च राघव ॥ ६९ ॥
इन्द्रियाणां जयं बुद्ध्वा षाङ्गुण्यं दैवमानुषम् । कृत्यं विंशतिवर्गञ्च तथा प्रकृतिमण्डलम् ॥ ७० ॥
यात्रादण्डविधानञ्च द्वियोनी सन्धिविग्रहौ । कच्चिदेतान् महाप्राज्ञ यथावदनुमन्यसे ॥ ७१ ॥
“The ten, the five, the four groups, the seven group truly, the eight group, the three group and the three sciences, Raghava; mastery of the senses, the six policies, the divine and the human, what is to be done, the twenty group and the circle of states, the expedition, the arrangement of force, and peace and war with their two sources: do you, very wise one, understand these properly?
मन्त्रिभिस्त्वं यथोद्दिष्टैश्चतुर्भिस्त्रिभिरेव वा । कच्चित् समस्तैर्व्यस्तैश्च मन्त्र मन्त्रयसे मिथः ॥ ७२ ॥
“Do you take counsel with your ministers as prescribed, with three or four, all together and separately, in private?
कच्चित्ते सफला वेदाः कच्चित्ते सफलाः क्रियाः । कच्चित्ते सफला दाराः कच्चित्ते सफलं श्रुतम् ॥ ७३ ॥
“Are your Vedas fruitful? Are your rites fruitful? Are your wives fruitful? Is your learning fruitful?
कच्चिदेषैव ते बुद्धिर्यथोक्ता मम राघव । आयुष्या च यशस्या च धर्मकामार्थसंहिता ॥ ७४ ॥
“Is your understanding just as I have described, Raghava, giving long life and fame, joined with dharma, desire and wealth?
यां वृत्तिं वर्त्तते तातो यां च नः प्रपितामहाः । तां वृत्तिं वर्त्तसे कच्चिद्या च सत्पथगा शुभा ॥ ७५ ॥
“Do you follow the conduct our father followed, and that our great-grandfathers followed, the auspicious one that keeps to the good path?
कच्चित् स्वादु कृतं भोज्यमेको नाश्नासि राघव । कच्चिदाशंसमानेभ्यो मित्रेभ्यः सम्प्रयच्छसि ॥ ७६ ॥
“I hope you do not eat tasty food alone, Raghava? Do you give it to friends who hope for it?
राजा तु धर्मेण हि पालयित्वा महामतिर्दण्डधरः प्रजानाम् । अवाप्य कृत्स्नां वसुधां यथावदितश्च्युतः स्वर्गमुपैति विद्वान् ॥ ७७ ॥
“A wise king who protects with dharma, holding the rod of justice over his subjects, having rightly won the whole earth, goes to heaven when he passes from here.”