Rama's Counsel on Kingship

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.100.1)

जटिलं चीरवसनं प्राञ्जलिं पतितं भुवि। ददर्श रामो दुर्दर्शं युगान्ते भास्करं यथा॥ 100.1 ॥

jaṭilaṃ cīravasanaṃ prāñjaliṃ patitaṃ bhuvi| dadarśa rāmo durdarśaṃ yugānte bhāskaraṃ yathā

Rama saw him, matted-haired, clad in bark, hands joined in reverence, fallen upon the ground — as hard to bear the sight of as the sun at the end of an age.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.100.2)

कथञ्चिदभिविज्ञाय विवर्णवदनं कृशम्। भ्रातरं भरतं रामः परिजग्राह बाहुना॥ 100.2 ॥

kathañcidabhivijñāya vivarṇavadanaṃ kṛśam| bhrātaraṃ bharataṃ rāmaḥ parijagrāha bāhunā

Recognizing with difficulty his brother Bharata, pale of face and wasted with grief, Rama gathered him into his arms.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.100.3)

आघ्राय रामस्तं मूर्ध्नि परिष्वज्य च राघवः। अङ्के भरतमारोप्य पर्यपृच्छत् समाहितः॥ 100.3 ॥

āghrāya rāmastaṃ mūrdhni pariṣvajya ca rāghavaḥ| aṅke bharatamāropya paryapṛcchat samāhitaḥ

Raghava, kissing him upon the head and embracing him, set Bharata upon his lap, and, composed, questioned him.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.100.4)

क्व नु ते ऽभूत् पिता तात यदरण्यं त्वमागतः। न हि त्वं जीवतस्तस्य वनमागन्तुमर्हसि॥ 100.4 ॥

kva nu te 'bhūt pitā tāta yadaraṇyaṃ tvamāgataḥ| na hi tvaṃ jīvatastasya vanamāgantumarhasi

"Dear one, where then is your father, that you have come to the forest? For you should not come to the forest while he still lives."

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.100.5)

चिरस्य बत पश्यामि दूराद्भरतमागतम्। दुष्प्रतीकमरण्ये ऽस्मिन् किं तात वनमागतः॥ 100.5 ॥

cirasya bata paśyāmi dūrādbharatamāgatam| duṣpratīkamaraṇye 'smin kiṃ tāta vanamāgataḥ

"After so long, ah, I see Bharata approaching from afar — yet the sight bodes ill here in this forest. Why, dear one, have you come to the forest?"

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.100.6)

कच्चिद्धारयते तात राजा यत्त्वमिहागतः। कच्चिन्न दीनः सहसा राजा लोकान्तरं गतः॥ 100.6 ॥

kacciddhārayate tāta rājā yattvamihāgataḥ| kaccinna dīnaḥ sahasā rājā lokāntaraṃ gataḥ

"Dear one, is our father the king still living, that you have come here? Has he not, alas, suddenly and helplessly departed to the other world?"

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.100.7)

कच्चित्सौम्य न ते राज्यं भ्रष्टं बालस्य शाश्वतम्। कच्चिच्छुश्रूषसे तात पितरं सत्यविक्रमम्॥ 100.7 ॥

kaccitsaumya na te rājyaṃ bhraṣṭaṃ bālasya śāśvatam| kaccicchuśrūṣase tāta pitaraṃ satyavikramam

"Gentle one, has your hereditary kingdom, rightfully yours though you are young, not been lost? Dear one, are you still attending upon our father of true valour?"

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.100.8)

कच्चिद्दशरथो राजा कुशली सत्यसङ्गरः। राजसूयाश्वमेधानामाहर्ता धर्मनिश्चयः॥ 100.8 ॥

kacciddaśaratho rājā kuśalī satyasaṅgaraḥ| rājasūyāśvamedhānāmāhartā dharmaniścayaḥ

"Is King Dasharatha well — he who is true to his vows, performer of the Rajasuya and Ashvamedha sacrifices, steadfast in dharma?"

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.100.9)

स कच्चिद्ब्राह्मणो विद्वान् धर्मनित्यो महाद्युतिः। इक्ष्वाकूणामुपाध्यायो यथावत्तात पूज्यते॥ 100.9 ॥

sa kaccidbrāhmaṇo vidvān dharmanityo mahādyutiḥ| ikṣvākūṇāmupādhyāyo yathāvattāta pūjyate

"Dear one, is that learned, ever-righteous, radiant brahmin, the family preceptor of the Ikshvakus, still honoured as he ought to be?"

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.100.10)

सा तात कच्चित्कौसल्या सुमित्रा च प्रजावती। सुखिनी कच्चिदार्या च देवी नन्दति कैकयी॥ 100.10 ॥

sā tāta kaccitkausalyā sumitrā ca prajāvatī| sukhinī kaccidāryā ca devī nandati kaikayī

"Dear one, are mother Kausalya and Sumitra, blessed with fine sons, both well? Is the noble queen Kaikeyi happy and content?"

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.100.11)

कच्चिद्विनयसम्पन्नः कुलपुत्रो बहुश्रुतः। अनसूयुरनुद्रष्टा सत्कृतस्ते पुरोहितः॥ 100.11 ॥

kaccidvinayasampannaḥ kulaputro bahuśrutaḥ| anasūyuranudraṣṭā satkṛtaste purohitaḥ

"Is your family priest — well-mannered, nobly born, widely learned, free from envy, far-sighted — held in honour by you?"

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.100.12)

कच्चिदग्निषु ते युक्तो विधिज्ञो मतिमानृजुः। हुतं च होष्यमाणं च काले वेदयते सदा॥ 100.12 ॥

kaccidagniṣu te yukto vidhijño matimānṛjuḥ| hutaṃ ca hoṣyamāṇaṃ ca kāle vedayate sadā

"Is the one appointed over your sacred fires — versed in ritual, wise, upright — always informing you in good time of the offerings made and yet to be made?"

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.100.13)

कच्चिद्देवान् पितॄन् भृत्यान् गुरून् पितृसमानपि। वृद्धांश्च तात वैद्यांश्च ब्राह्मणांश्चाभिमन्यसे॥ 100.13 ॥

kacciddevān pitṝn bhṛtyān gurūn pitṛsamānapi| vṛddhāṃśca tāta vaidyāṃśca brāhmaṇāṃścābhimanyase

"Dear one, do you honour the gods, the ancestors, your dependents, your teachers and those who are as a father to you, as well as the aged, physicians, and brahmins?"

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.100.14)

इष्वस्त्रवरसम्पन्नमर्थशास्त्रविशारदम्। सुधन्वानमुपाध्यायं कच्चित्त्वं तात मन्यसे॥ 100.14 ॥

iṣvastravarasampannamarthaśāstraviśāradam| sudhanvānamupādhyāyaṃ kaccittvaṃ tāta manyase

"Dear one, do you hold in esteem your teacher Sudhanvan, accomplished in arms and weaponry and versed in the science of statecraft?"

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.100.15)

कच्चिदात्मसमाः शूराः श्रुतवन्तो जितेन्द्रियाः। कुलीनाश्चेङ्गितज्ञाश्च कृतास्ते तात मन्त्रिणः॥ 100.15 ॥

kaccidātmasamāḥ śūrāḥ śrutavanto jitendriyāḥ| kulīnāśceṅgitajñāśca kṛtāste tāta mantriṇaḥ

"Dear one, have you made ministers of men equal to yourself — brave, learned, self-controlled, nobly born, and skilled at reading others' intentions?"

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.100.16)

मन्त्रो विजयमूलं हि राज्ञां भवति राघव। सुसंवृतो मन्त्रधरैरमात्यैः शास्त्रकोविदैः॥ 100.16 ॥

mantro vijayamūlaṃ hi rājñāṃ bhavati rāghava| susaṃvṛto mantradharairamātyaiḥ śāstrakovidaiḥ

"For counsel, well-guarded by ministers who keep confidences and are versed in the sciences, is, Raghava, the very root of a king's victory."

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.100.17)

कच्चिन्निद्रावशं नैषीः कच्चित्काले प्रबुध्यसे। कच्चिच्चापररात्रेषु चिन्तयस्यर्थनैपुणम्॥ 100.17 ॥

kaccinnidrāvaśaṃ naiṣīḥ kaccitkāle prabudhyase| kacciccāpararātreṣu cintayasyarthanaipuṇam

"Do you avoid surrendering wholly to sleep? Do you rise at the proper hour? Do you, in the latter watches of the night, ponder skilfully over matters of state?"

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.100.18)

कच्चिन्मन्त्रयसे नैकः कच्चिन्न बहुभिः सह। कच्चित्ते मन्त्रितो मन्त्रो राष्ट्रं न परिधावति॥ 100.18 ॥

kaccinmantrayase naikaḥ kaccinna bahubhiḥ saha| kaccitte mantrito mantro rāṣṭraṃ na paridhāvati

"Do you refrain from deliberating alone, and likewise from deliberating with too many? Does your counsel, once taken, not leak out and spread through the realm?"

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.100.19)

कच्चिदर्थं विनिश्चित्य लघुमूलं महोदयम्। क्षिप्रमारभसे कर्तुं न दीर्घयसि राघव॥ 100.19 ॥

kaccidarthaṃ viniścitya laghumūlaṃ mahodayam| kṣipramārabhase kartuṃ na dīrghayasi rāghava

"Having decided upon a course that costs little but yields great gain, do you set about it swiftly, Raghava, without delay?"

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.100.20)

कच्चित्ते सुकृतान्येव कृतरूपाणि वा पुनः। विदुस्ते सर्वकार्याणि न कर्तव्यानि पार्थिवाः॥ 100.20 ॥

kaccitte sukṛtānyeva kṛtarūpāṇi vā punaḥ| viduste sarvakāryāṇi na kartavyāni pārthivāḥ

"Do other kings learn of your undertakings only once they are well and truly accomplished, and not while they still remain to be done?"

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.100.21)

कच्चिन्न तर्कैर्युक्त्या वा ये चाप्यपरिकीर्तिताः। त्वया वा तव वामात्यैर्बुध्यते तात मन्त्रितम्॥ 100.21 ॥

kaccinna tarkairyuktyā vā ye cāpyaparikīrtitāḥ| tvayā vā tava vāmātyairbudhyate tāta mantritam

"Dear one, do matters not openly declared remain known, through logic and reasoning, only to you or to your own ministers, without becoming known to others?"

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.100.22)

कच्चित्सहस्रान् मूर्खाणामेकमिच्छसि पण्डितम्। पण्डितो ह्यर्थकृच्छ्रेषु कुर्यान्निःश्रेयसं महत्॥ 100.22 ॥

kaccitsahasrān mūrkhāṇāmekamicchasi paṇḍitam| paṇḍito hyarthakṛcchreṣu kuryānniḥśreyasaṃ mahat

"Do you prefer a single learned man to a thousand fools? For a learned man, in a crisis, can bring about great good."

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.100.23)

सहस्राण्यपि मूर्खाणां यद्युपास्ते महीपतिः। अथवाप्ययुतान्येव नास्ति तेषु सहायता॥ 100.23 ॥

sahasrāṇyapi mūrkhāṇāṃ yadyupāste mahīpatiḥ| athavāpyayutānyeva nāsti teṣu sahāyatā

"If a king keeps the company of thousands of fools, or even ten thousand, there is no real help to be found among them."

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.100.24)

एकोप्यमात्यो मेधावी शूरो दक्षो विचक्षणः। राजानं राजमात्रं वा प्रापयेन्महतीं श्रियम्॥ 100.24 ॥

ekopyamātyo medhāvī śūro dakṣo vicakṣaṇaḥ| rājānaṃ rājamātraṃ vā prāpayenmahatīṃ śriyam

"But a single minister — wise, valiant, capable and discerning — can bring even a king, or merely a prince, to great prosperity."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.100.25)

कच्चिन्मुख्या महत्स्वेव मध्यमेषु च मध्यमाः। जघन्यास्तु जघन्येषु भृत्याः कर्मसु योजिताः॥ 100.25 ॥

kaccinmukhyā mahatsveva madhyameṣu ca madhyamāḥ| jaghanyāstu jaghanyeṣu bhṛtyāḥ karmasu yojitāḥ

"Are your foremost servants employed only in the greatest tasks, the middling ones in tasks of middling weight, and the lowliest only in the humblest tasks?"

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.100.26)

अमात्यानुपधातीतान् पितृपैतामहाञ्छुचीन्। श्रेष्ठान् श्रेष्ठेषु कच्चित्त्वं नियोजयसि कर्मसु॥ 100.26 ॥

amātyānupadhātītān pitṛpaitāmahāñchucīn| śreṣṭhān śreṣṭheṣu kaccittvaṃ niyojayasi karmasu

"Do you appoint to the highest posts only those ministers of proven integrity and pure conduct, who have served since the time of your father and grandfather?"

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.100.27)

कच्चिन्नोग्रेण दण्डेन भृशमुद्वेजितप्रजम्। राष्ट्रं तवानुजानन्ति मन्त्रिणः कैकयीसुत॥ 100.27 ॥

kaccinnogreṇa daṇḍena bhṛśamudvejitaprajam| rāṣṭraṃ tavānujānanti mantriṇaḥ kaikayīsuta

"O son of Kaikeyi, do your ministers see to it that your realm's subjects are never made to suffer greatly under harsh punishment?"

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.100.28)

कच्चित्त्वां नावजानन्ति याजकाः पतितं यथा। उग्रप्रतिग्रहीतारं कामयानमिव स्त्रियः॥ 100.28 ॥

kaccittvāṃ nāvajānanti yājakāḥ patitaṃ yathā| ugrapratigrahītāraṃ kāmayānamiva striyaḥ

"Do priests not hold you in the same contempt as they would a fallen man — one who greedily accepts gifts beyond his due, as women would scorn an unworthy man who desires them?"

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.100.29)

उपायकुशलं वैद्यं भृत्यसन्दूषणे रतम्। शूरमैश्वर्यकामं च यो न हन्ति स वध्यते॥ 100.29 ॥

upāyakuśalaṃ vaidyaṃ bhṛtyasandūṣaṇe ratam| śūramaiśvaryakāmaṃ ca yo na hanti sa vadhyate

"One skilled in stratagem, bent on corrupting the king's own servants, valiant, and covetous of sovereignty for himself — whoever fails to strike down such a man deserves death himself."

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.100.30)

कच्चिद्धृष्टश्च शूरश्च मतिमान् धृतिमाञ्छुचिः। कुलीनश्चानुरक्तश्च दक्षः सेनापतिः कृतः॥ 100.30 ॥

kacciddhṛṣṭaśca śūraśca matimān dhṛtimāñchuciḥ| kulīnaścānuraktaśca dakṣaḥ senāpatiḥ kṛtaḥ

"Have you made your commander of the army a man who is bold, valiant, intelligent, resolute, of pure conduct, well-born, devoted, and capable?"

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.100.31)

बलवन्तश्च कच्चित्ते मुख्या युद्धविशारदाः। दृष्टापदाना विक्रान्तास्त्वया सत्कृत्य मानिताः॥ 100.31 ॥

balavantaśca kaccitte mukhyā yuddhaviśāradāḥ| dṛṣṭāpadānā vikrāntāstvayā satkṛtya mānitāḥ

"Are your chief warriors — strong, skilled in war, of proven feats and valour — duly honoured and respected by you?"

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.100.32)

कच्चिद्बलस्य भक्तं च वेतनं च यथोचितम्। सम्प्राप्तकालं दातव्यं ददासि न विलम्बसे॥ 100.32 ॥

kaccidbalasya bhaktaṃ ca vetanaṃ ca yathocitam| samprāptakālaṃ dātavyaṃ dadāsi na vilambase

"Do you give your troops their rations and their rightful wages, when due, without delay?"

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.100.33)

कालातिक्रमणाच्चैव भक्तवेतनयोर्भृताः। भर्तुः कुप्यन्ति दुष्यन्ति सो ऽनर्थः सुमहान् स्मृतः॥ 100.33 ॥

kālātikramaṇāccaiva bhaktavetanayorbhṛtāḥ| bhartuḥ kupyanti duṣyanti so 'narthaḥ sumahān smṛtaḥ

"For when food and wages are delayed past their due time, hired men grow angry with their master and turn against him — this is reckoned a very great calamity."

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.100.34)

कच्चित्सर्वेऽनुरक्तास्त्वां कुलपुत्राः प्रधानतः। कच्चित्प्राणांस्तवार्थेषु सन्त्यजन्ति समाहिताः॥ 100.34 ॥

kaccitsarve'nuraktāstvāṃ kulaputrāḥ pradhānataḥ| kaccitprāṇāṃstavārtheṣu santyajanti samāhitāḥ

"Are all the well-born men, especially the foremost among them, devoted to you? Would they, resolute of mind, lay down even their lives for your sake?"

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.100.35)

कच्चिज्जानपदो विद्वान् दक्षिणः प्रतिभानवान्। यथोक्तवादी दूतस्ते कृतो भरत पण्डितः॥ 100.35 ॥

kaccijjānapado vidvān dakṣiṇaḥ pratibhānavān| yathoktavādī dūtaste kṛto bharata paṇḍitaḥ

"Bharata, have you made your envoy a learned, courteous, quick-witted man, wise, who reports faithfully just what he was told?"

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.100.36)

कच्चिदष्टादशान्येषु स्वपक्षे दश पञ्च च। त्रिभिस्त्रिभिरविज्ञातैर्वेत्सि तीर्थानि चारकैः॥ 100.36 ॥

kaccidaṣṭādaśānyeṣu svapakṣe daśa pañca ca| tribhistribhiravijñātairvetsi tīrthāni cārakaiḥ

"Do you keep watch, through secret agents unknown even to one another, three by three, over the eighteen key posts in the enemy camp and the fifteen in your own?"

Shloka 37 (ayodhya.100.37)

कच्चिद्व्यपास्तानहितान् प्रतियातांश्च सर्वदा। दुर्बलाननवज्ञाय वर्तसे रिपुसूदन॥ 100.37 ॥

kaccidvyapāstānahitān pratiyātāṃśca sarvadā| durbalānanavajñāya vartase ripusūdana

"O destroyer of foes, toward enemies once driven off, or who have returned, do you always act with due care, never dismissing them merely for seeming weak?"

Shloka 38 (ayodhya.100.38)

कच्चिन्न लोकायतिकान् ब्राह्मणांस्तात सेवसे। अनर्थकुशला ह्येते बालाः पण्डितमानिनः॥ 100.38 ॥

kaccinna lokāyatikān brāhmaṇāṃstāta sevase| anarthakuśalā hyete bālāḥ paṇḍitamāninaḥ

"Dear one, you do not, I hope, keep company with materialist Lokayata brahmins? For such fools, though they fancy themselves wise, are skilled only in bringing about ruin."

Shloka 39 (ayodhya.100.39)

धर्मशास्त्रेषु मुख्येषु विद्यमानेषु दुर्बुधाः। बुद्धिमान्वीक्षिकीं प्राप्य निरर्थं प्रवदन्ति ते॥ 100.39 ॥

dharmaśāstreṣu mukhyeṣu vidyamāneṣu durbudhāḥ| buddhimānvīkṣikīṃ prāpya nirarthaṃ pravadanti te

"Though the foremost treatises on dharma exist, these misguided men, taking refuge in mere dry logic, speak only what is fruitless."

Shloka 40 (ayodhya.100.40)

वीरैरध्युषितां पूर्वमस्माकं तात पूर्वकैः। सत्यनामां दृढद्वारां हस्त्यश्वरथसङ्कुलाम्॥ 100.40 ॥

vīrairadhyuṣitāṃ pūrvamasmākaṃ tāta pūrvakaiḥ| satyanāmāṃ dṛḍhadvārāṃ hastyaśvarathasaṅkulām

"That city, dear one, once dwelt in by our valiant forefathers, true to her name, with sturdy gates, thronged with elephants, horses and chariots,"

Shloka 41 (ayodhya.100.41)

ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्रियैर्वैश्यैः स्वकर्मनिरतैः सदा। जितेन्द्रियैर्महोत्साहैर्वृतामार्यैः सहस्रशः॥ 100.41 ॥

brāhmaṇaiḥ kṣatriyairvaiśyaiḥ svakarmanirataiḥ sadā| jitendriyairmahotsāhairvṛtāmāryaiḥ sahasraśaḥ

"surrounded by thousands of noble brahmins, kshatriyas and vaishyas, ever devoted to their own callings, self-restrained and full of great energy,"

Shloka 42 (ayodhya.100.42)

प्रासादैर्विविधाकारैर्वृतां वैद्यजनाकुलाम्। कच्चित्सुमुदितां स्फीतामयोध्यां परिरक्षसि॥ 100.42 ॥

prāsādairvividhākārairvṛtāṃ vaidyajanākulām| kaccitsumuditāṃ sphītāmayodhyāṃ parirakṣasi

"ringed with mansions of every form and thronged with physicians — do you keep that joyous, thriving Ayodhya well protected?"

Shloka 43 (ayodhya.100.43)

कच्चिच्चित्यशतैर्जुष्टः सुनिविष्टजनाकुलः। देवस्थानैः प्रपाभिश्च तटाकैश्चोपशोभितः॥ 100.43 ॥

kacciccityaśatairjuṣṭaḥ suniviṣṭajanākulaḥ| devasthānaiḥ prapābhiśca taṭākaiścopaśobhitaḥ

"Is it graced with hundreds of shrines, filled with contented, well-settled folk, and adorned with temples, watering-places and reservoirs?"

Shloka 44 (ayodhya.100.44)

प्रहृष्टनरनारीकः समाजोत्सवशोभितः। सुकृष्टसीमा पशुमान् हिंसाभिः परिवर्जितः॥ 100.44 ॥

prahṛṣṭanaranārīkaḥ samājotsavaśobhitaḥ| sukṛṣṭasīmā paśumān hiṃsābhiḥ parivarjitaḥ

"delighted with joyful men and women, graced with festive gatherings, its borders well-tilled, rich in cattle, and free of violence?"

Shloka 45 (ayodhya.100.45)

अदेवमातृको रम्यः श्वापदैः परिवर्जितः। परित्यक्तो भयैः सर्वैः खनिभिश्चोपशोभितः॥ 100.45 ॥

adevamātṛko ramyaḥ śvāpadaiḥ parivarjitaḥ| parityakto bhayaiḥ sarvaiḥ khanibhiścopaśobhitaḥ

"delightful, not dependent on rainfall alone, free of savage beasts, rid of every peril, and enriched with mines,"

Shloka 46 (ayodhya.100.46)

विवर्जितो नरैः पापैर्मम पूर्वैः सुरक्षितः। कच्चिज्जनपदः स्फीतः सुखं वसति राघव॥ 100.46 ॥

vivarjito naraiḥ pāpairmama pūrvaiḥ surakṣitaḥ| kaccijjanapadaḥ sphītaḥ sukhaṃ vasati rāghava

"free of wicked men, well-guarded as it was by my forebears — does the realm, Raghava, prosper, and do its people live in happiness?"

Shloka 47 (ayodhya.100.47)

कच्चित्ते दयिताः सर्वे कृषिगोरक्षजीविनः। वार्तायां संश्रितस्तात लोको हि सुखमेधते॥ 100.47 ॥

kaccitte dayitāḥ sarve kṛṣigorakṣajīvinaḥ| vārtāyāṃ saṃśritastāta loko hi sukhamedhate

"Are all those who live by farming and cattle-herding dear to you? For it is such people, dear one, dependent on their livelihood, who truly flourish in happiness."

Shloka 48 (ayodhya.100.48)

तेषां गुप्तिपरीहारैः कच्चित्ते भरणं कृतम्। रक्ष्या हि राज्ञा धर्मेण सर्वे विषयवासिनः॥ 100.48 ॥

teṣāṃ guptiparīhāraiḥ kaccitte bharaṇaṃ kṛtam| rakṣyā hi rājñā dharmeṇa sarve viṣayavāsinaḥ

"Have you seen to their protection and relief? For all the dwellers of the realm are to be guarded by the king through righteousness."

Shloka 49 (ayodhya.100.49)

कच्चित्स्त्रियः सान्त्वयसि कच्चित्ताश्च सुरक्षिताः। कच्चिन्न श्रद्दधास्यासां कच्चिद्गुह्यं न भाषसे॥ 100.49 ॥

kaccitstriyaḥ sāntvayasi kaccittāśca surakṣitāḥ| kaccinna śraddadhāsyāsāṃ kaccidguhyaṃ na bhāṣase

"Do you treat the women [of your household] with kindness? Are they well protected? You do not, I trust, place excessive trust in them, nor disclose secrets to them?"

Shloka 50 (ayodhya.100.50)

कच्चिन्नागवनं गुप्तं कच्चित्ते सन्ति धेनुकाः। कच्चिन्न गणिकाश्वानां कुञ्जराणां च तृप्यसि॥ 100.50 ॥

kaccinnāgavanaṃ guptaṃ kaccitte santi dhenukāḥ| kaccinna gaṇikāśvānāṃ kuñjarāṇāṃ ca tṛpyasi

"Is your elephant-forest well guarded? Do you have milch-cows enough? You are not, I hope, so absorbed in courtesans, horses and elephants that you can never be satisfied?"

Shloka 51 (ayodhya.100.51)

कच्चिद्दर्शयसे नित्यं मनुष्याणां विभूषितम्। उत्थायोत्थाय पूर्वाह्णे राजपुत्र महापथे॥ 100.51 ॥

kacciddarśayase nityaṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ vibhūṣitam| utthāyotthāya pūrvāhṇe rājaputra mahāpathe

"O prince, do you rise each day in the forenoon and show yourself, well adorned, to the people upon the highway?"

Shloka 52 (ayodhya.100.52)

कच्चिन्न सर्वे कर्मान्ताः प्रत्यक्षास्तेऽविशङ्कया। सर्वे वा पुनरुत्सृष्टा मध्यमेवात्र कारणम्॥ 100.52 ॥

kaccinna sarve karmāntāḥ pratyakṣāste'viśaṅkayā| sarve vā punarutsṛṣṭā madhyamevātra kāraṇam

"Are all your affairs handled only under your own direct, suspicious eye, or are they, on the contrary, entirely left to others? A middle course between the two is what is called for here."

Shloka 53 (ayodhya.100.53)

कच्चित्सर्वाणि दुर्गाणि धनधान्यायुधोदकैः। यन्त्रैश्च परिपूर्णानि तथा शिल्पिधनुर्धरैः॥ 100.53 ॥

kaccitsarvāṇi durgāṇi dhanadhānyāyudhodakaiḥ| yantraiśca paripūrṇāni tathā śilpidhanurdharaiḥ

"Are all your forts fully stocked with wealth, grain, weapons and water, together with engines of war, and with artisans and archers?"

Shloka 54 (ayodhya.100.54)

आयस्ते विपुलः कच्चित्कच्चिदल्पतरो व्ययः। अपात्रेषु न ते कच्चित्कोशो गच्छति राघव॥ 100.54 ॥

āyaste vipulaḥ kaccitkaccidalpataro vyayaḥ| apātreṣu na te kaccitkośo gacchati rāghava

"Is your income ample and your expenditure comparatively modest? Raghava, does your treasury never go to those unworthy of it?"

Shloka 55 (ayodhya.100.55)

देवतार्थे च पित्रर्थे ब्राह्मणाभ्यागतेषु च। योधेषु मित्रवर्गेषु कच्चिद्गच्छति ते व्ययः॥ 100.55 ॥

devatārthe ca pitrarthe brāhmaṇābhyāgateṣu ca| yodheṣu mitravargeṣu kaccidgacchati te vyayaḥ

"Is your expenditure directed toward the gods, toward your ancestors, toward brahmins and guests, toward your soldiers, and toward your circle of friends?"

Shloka 56 (ayodhya.100.56)

कच्चिदार्यो विशुद्धात्मा आक्षारितश्चोरकर्मणा। अपृष्टः शास्त्रकुशलैर्न लोभाद्वध्यते शुचिः॥ 100.56 ॥

kaccidāryo viśuddhātmā ākṣāritaścorakarmaṇā| apṛṣṭaḥ śāstrakuśalairna lobhādvadhyate śuciḥ

"Is a pure-souled, noble man, merely accused of theft, protected from being put to death out of greed by those learned in law, without first being properly examined, though in truth innocent?"

Shloka 57 (ayodhya.100.57)

गृहीतश्चैव पृष्टश्च काले दृष्टः सकारणः। कच्चिन्न मुच्यते चोरो धनलोभान्नरर्षभ॥ 100.57 ॥

gṛhītaścaiva pṛṣṭaśca kāle dṛṣṭaḥ sakāraṇaḥ| kaccinna mucyate coro dhanalobhānnararṣabha

"O bull among men, when a thief has been caught, questioned, and found guilty in due course upon good cause, is he never released again out of greed for money?"

Shloka 58 (ayodhya.100.58)

व्यसने कच्चिदाढ्यस्य दुर्गतस्य च राघव। अर्थं विरागाः पश्यन्ति तवामात्या बहुश्रुताः॥ 100.58 ॥

vyasane kaccidāḍhyasya durgatasya ca rāghava| arthaṃ virāgāḥ paśyanti tavāmātyā bahuśrutāḥ

"Raghava, in a dispute between a wealthy man and a poor one, do your learned ministers weigh the matter impartially, free from bias?"

Shloka 59 (ayodhya.100.59)

यानि मिथ्याभिशस्तानां पतन्त्यस्राणि राघव। तानि पुत्रपशून् घ्नन्ति प्रीत्यर्थमनुशासतः॥ 100.59 ॥

yāni mithyābhiśastānāṃ patantyasrāṇi rāghava| tāni putrapaśūn ghnanti prītyarthamanuśāsataḥ

"Raghava, the tears shed by those falsely accused fall upon and destroy the very sons and cattle of a ruler who governs only to please others rather than through justice."

Shloka 60 (ayodhya.100.60)

कच्चिद्वृद्धांश्च बालांश्च वैद्यमुख्यांश्च राघव। दानेन मनसा वाचा त्रिभिरेतैर्बुभूषसे॥ 100.60 ॥

kaccidvṛddhāṃśca bālāṃśca vaidyamukhyāṃśca rāghava| dānena manasā vācā tribhiretairbubhūṣase

"Raghava, do you seek to win over the aged, the young, and eminent physicians through these three means — gift, thought, and word?"

Shloka 61 (ayodhya.100.61)

कच्चिद्गुरूंश्च वृद्धांश्च तापसान् देवतातिथीन्। चैत्यांश्च सर्वान् सिद्धार्थान् ब्राह्मणांश्च नमस्यसि॥ 100.61 ॥

kaccidgurūṃśca vṛddhāṃśca tāpasān devatātithīn| caityāṃśca sarvān siddhārthān brāhmaṇāṃśca namasyasi

"Do you pay homage to your teachers, to elders, to ascetics, to the gods and to guests, to all shrines proven efficacious, and to brahmins?"

Shloka 62 (ayodhya.100.62)

कच्चिदर्थेन वा धर्ममर्थं धर्मेण वा पुनः। उभौ वा प्रीतिलोभेन कामेन च न बाधसे॥ 100.62 ॥

kaccidarthena vā dharmamarthaṃ dharmeṇa vā punaḥ| ubhau vā prītilobhena kāmena ca na bādhase

"You do not, I hope, sacrifice dharma for the sake of wealth, or wealth for the sake of dharma — nor indeed obstruct both of them through fondness, greed, or desire?"

Shloka 63 (ayodhya.100.63)

कच्चिदर्थं च धर्मं च कामं च जयतां वर। विभज्य काले कालज्ञ सर्वान् वरद सेवसे॥ 100.63 ॥

kaccidarthaṃ ca dharmaṃ ca kāmaṃ ca jayatāṃ vara| vibhajya kāle kālajña sarvān varada sevase

"O best of conquerors, knower of the right season, giver of boons, do you attend to wealth, dharma, and pleasure all together, dividing your time fittingly among them?"

Shloka 64 (ayodhya.100.64)

कच्चित्ते ब्राह्मणाः शर्म सर्वशास्त्रार्थकोविदाः। आशंसन्ते महाप्राज्ञ पौरजानपदैः सह॥ 100.64 ॥

kaccitte brāhmaṇāḥ śarma sarvaśāstrārthakovidāḥ| āśaṃsante mahāprājña paurajānapadaiḥ saha

"O most wise one, do the brahmins, versed in the meaning of every scripture, together with the citizens and the country-folk, wish for your well-being?"

Shloka 65 (ayodhya.100.65)

नास्तिक्यमनृतं क्रोधं प्रमादं दीर्घसूत्रताम्। अदर्शनं ज्ञानवतामालस्यं पञ्चवृत्तिताम्॥ 100.65 ॥

nāstikyamanṛtaṃ krodhaṃ pramādaṃ dīrghasūtratām| adarśanaṃ jñānavatāmālasyaṃ pañcavṛttitām

"Scepticism, falsehood, anger, negligence, procrastination, failing to seek out the wise, sloth, and indulgence of the five senses,"

Shloka 66 (ayodhya.100.66)

एकचिन्तनमर्थानामनर्थज्ञैश्च मन्त्रणम्। निश्चितानामनारम्भं मन्त्रस्यापरिरक्षणम्॥ 100.66 ॥

ekacintanamarthānāmanarthajñaiśca mantraṇam| niścitānāmanārambhaṃ mantrasyāparirakṣaṇam

"deliberating on affairs alone by oneself, taking counsel with those who do not know what is truly beneficial, failing to act on what has been resolved, and failing to guard the secrecy of one's counsel —"

Shloka 67 (ayodhya.100.67)

मङ्गलस्याप्रयोगं च प्रत्युत्थानं च सर्वतः। कच्चित्त्वं वर्जयस्येतान् राजदोषांश्चतुर्दश॥ 100.67 ॥

maṅgalasyāprayogaṃ ca pratyutthānaṃ ca sarvataḥ| kaccittvaṃ varjayasyetān rājadoṣāṃścaturdaśa

"and neglecting auspicious rites, and rising against everyone indiscriminately — do you avoid these fourteen faults that beset kings?"

Shloka 68 (ayodhya.100.68)

दश पञ्च चतुर्वर्गान् सप्तवर्गं च तत्त्वतः। अष्टवर्गं त्रिवर्गं च विद्यास्तिस्रश्च राघव॥ 100.68 ॥

daśa pañca caturvargān saptavargaṃ ca tattvataḥ| aṣṭavargaṃ trivargaṃ ca vidyāstisraśca rāghava

"The fifteen [officers], the fourfold means [of policy], truly the sevenfold constituents of state, the group of eight, the group of three, and the three branches of learning, O Raghava,"

Shloka 69 (ayodhya.100.69)

इन्द्रियाणां जयं बुद्ध्वा षाड्गुण्यं दैवमानुषम्। कृत्यं विंशतिवर्गं च तथा प्रकृतिमण्डलम्॥ 100.69 ॥

indriyāṇāṃ jayaṃ buddhvā ṣāḍguṇyaṃ daivamānuṣam| kṛtyaṃ viṃśativargaṃ ca tathā prakṛtimaṇḍalam

"understanding mastery of the senses, the sixfold policy both divine and human, the twenty duties, and likewise the circle of neighbouring states,"

Shloka 70 (ayodhya.100.70)

यात्रादण्डविधानं च द्वियोनी सन्धिविग्रहौ। कच्चिदेतान् महाप्राज्ञ यथावदनुमन्यसे॥ 100.70 ॥

yātrādaṇḍavidhānaṃ ca dviyonī sandhivigrahau| kaccidetān mahāprājña yathāvadanumanyase

"and the ordinances of expedition and of punishment, and the twin policies of peace and war — do you, O wise one, duly give heed to all of these?"

Shloka 71 (ayodhya.100.71)

मन्त्रिभिस्त्वं यथोद्दिष्टैश्चतुर्भिस्त्रिभिरेव वा। कच्चित्समस्तैर्व्यस्तैश्च मन्त्रं मन्त्रयसे मिथः॥ 100.71 ॥

mantribhistvaṃ yathoddiṣṭaiścaturbhistribhireva vā| kaccitsamastairvyastaiśca mantraṃ mantrayase mithaḥ

"Do you take counsel, whether together or separately, with your ministers duly appointed for the purpose — be it four of them, or just three?"

Shloka 72 (ayodhya.100.72)

कच्चित्ते सफला वेदाः कच्चित्ते सफलाः क्रियाः। कच्चित्ते सफला दाराः कच्चित्ते सफलं श्रुतम्॥ 100.72 ॥

kaccitte saphalā vedāḥ kaccitte saphalāḥ kriyāḥ| kaccitte saphalā dārāḥ kaccitte saphalaṃ śrutam

"Has your study of the Vedas borne fruit? Have your ritual acts borne fruit? Has your marriage borne fruit? Has your learning borne fruit?"

Shloka 73 (ayodhya.100.73)

कच्चिदेषैव ते बुद्धिर्यथोक्ता मम राघव। आयुष्या च यशस्या च धर्मकामार्थसंहिता॥ 100.73 ॥

kaccideṣaiva te buddhiryathoktā mama rāghava| āyuṣyā ca yaśasyā ca dharmakāmārthasaṃhitā

"Raghava, is your understanding still just as I have described here — one that leads to long life and fame, and stands in harmony with dharma, artha, and kama?"

Shloka 74 (ayodhya.100.74)

यां वृत्तिं वर्तते तातो यां च नः प्रपितामहाः। तां वृत्तिं वर्तसे कच्चिद्या च सत्पथगा शुभा॥ 100.74 ॥

yāṃ vṛttiṃ vartate tāto yāṃ ca naḥ prapitāmahāḥ| tāṃ vṛttiṃ vartase kaccidyā ca satpathagā śubhā

"Do you follow that same conduct which our father followed, and which our forefathers before him followed — that auspicious way that keeps to the good path?"

Shloka 75 (ayodhya.100.75)

कच्चित्स्वादु कृतं भोज्यमेको नाश्नासि राघव। कच्चिदाशंसमानेभ्यो मित्रेभ्यः सम्प्रयच्छसि॥ 100.75 ॥

kaccitsvādu kṛtaṃ bhojyameko nāśnāsi rāghava| kaccidāśaṃsamānebhyo mitrebhyaḥ samprayacchasi

"Raghava, when a tasty meal is prepared, you do not eat it alone, do you? Do you share it with the friends who look to you in expectation?"

Shloka 76 (ayodhya.100.76)

राजा तु धर्मेण हि पालयित्वा महामतिर्दण्डधरः प्रजानाम्। अवाप्य कृत्स्नां वसुधां यथावदितश्च्युतः स्वर्गमुपैति विद्वान्॥ 100.76 ॥

rājā tu dharmeṇa hi pālayitvā mahāmatirdaṇḍadharaḥ prajānām| avāpya kṛtsnāṃ vasudhāṃ yathāvaditaścyutaḥ svargamupaiti vidvān

For a king of great wisdom, wielding just punishment, who thus protects his subjects righteously and duly wins the whole earth, attains heaven when he departs from here, being truly wise.