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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 94: Rāma questions Bharata’s governance
Summary. He asks after the family, advisers, spies, troop provisions, water, revenue and impartial justice, still unaware of Daśaratha’s death
Sequence
- Rāma kisses Bharata's head, draws him close, and asks why he has left their father to come to the forest looking so distressed (2.94.1–3)
- still unaware of Daśaratha's death, he asks after him, the mothers, the priests, and their teachers (2.94.4–9)
- he asks whether Bharata consults capable ministers, keeps counsel confidential, makes decisions promptly, and avoids both solitary judgment and overlarge councils (2.94.10–16)
- he stresses the value of a single wise adviser over many incapable ones (2.94.17–19)
- he asks about trustworthy appointments, military leadership, treatment of officers, and timely food and pay for troops (2.94.20–27)
- he asks about loyal supporters, capable envoys, and intelligence gathered through three unrecognized spies for each of eighteen enemy officials and fifteen of Bharata's own → he warns against underestimating defeated enemies who return, and against relying on teachers of materialist reasoning whom he considers misleading. (2.94.28–33)
- Rāma then asks whether the city and countryside are secure, farmers and herdsmen protected, water available, and grievances addressed (2.94.34–41)
- he asks about the royal household, elephant forests, fort supplies, revenue, spending, and impartial justice → innocent people must not be convicted for money, nor guilty people released through bribery (2.94.42–50)
- he asks whether the young, old, physicians, guests, and religious communities receive care and respect → he warns against falsehood, anger, negligence, laziness, and other failures of rule, and reminds Bharata to share his comforts rather than enjoy them alone. (2.94.51–59)
Verses 2.94.1–59
2.94.1
āghrāya rāmas taṃ mūrdhni pariṣvajya ca rāghavaḥ
aṅke bharatam āropya paryapṛcchat samāhitaḥ
Having kissed Bharata upon his head and embraced him, Rāghava Rāma set him upon his lap and, composed, questioned him.
Words: āghrāya — having smelled (kissed upon); rāmas — Rāma; taṃ — him; mūrdhni — on the head; pariṣvajya — having embraced; ca — and; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; aṅke — on his lap; bharatam — Bharata; āropya — having placed; paryapṛcchat — questioned; samāhitaḥ — composed, attentive
2.94.2
kva nu te 'bhūt pitā tāta yad araṇyaṃ tvam āgataḥ
na hi tvaṃ jīvatas tasya vanam āgantum arhasi
“Where indeed was your father, dear one, that you have come to the forest? For while he lives you ought not to come to the woods.
Words: kva nu — where indeed; te — your; 'bhūt — was; pitā — father; tāta — dear one; yad — that; araṇyaṃ — to the forest; tvam — you; āgataḥ — (are) come; na hi — for not; tvaṃ — you; jīvatas — while he lives; tasya — of him; vanam — to the forest; āgantum — to come; arhasi — you ought
2.94.3
cirasya bata paśyāmi dūrād bharatam āgatam
duṣpratīkam araṇye 'smin kiṃ tāta vanam āgataḥ
After a long while, alas, I behold Bharata come from afar, sad of aspect, into this forest — why, dear one, have you come to the woods?
Words: cirasya — after a long time; bata — alas; paśyāmi — I see; dūrād — from afar; bharatam — Bharata; āgatam — come; duṣpratīkam — of sad, altered aspect; araṇye — in the forest; 'smin — this; kiṃ — why; tāta — dear one; vanam — to the forest; āgataḥ — (are) come
2.94.4
kaccid daśaratho rājā kuśalī satyasaṃgaraḥ
rājasūyāśvamedhānām āhartā dharmaniścayaḥ
Is King Daśaratha well — he true to his word, performer of the rājasūya and aśvamedha sacrifices, firm in dharma?
Words: kaccid — is it that, I trust; daśaratho — Daśaratha; rājā — the king; kuśalī — well, in good health; satyasaṃgaraḥ — true to his promise; rājasūyāśvamedhānām — of the rājasūya and aśvamedha (rites); āhartā — performer; dharmaniścayaḥ — firm in dharma
2.94.5
sa kaccid brāhmaṇo vidvān dharmanityo mahādyutiḥ
ikṣvākūṇām upādhyāyo yathāvat tāta pūjyate
Is that learned brāhmaṇa — ever devoted to dharma, of great splendor, the preceptor of the Ikṣvākus — duly honored, dear one?
Words: sa — that; kaccid — is it that; brāhmaṇo — brāhmaṇa; vidvān — learned; dharmanityo — ever devoted to dharma; mahādyutiḥ — of great splendor; ikṣvākūṇām — of the Ikṣvākus; upādhyāyo — preceptor; yathāvat — duly, properly; tāta — dear one; pūjyate — is honored
2.94.6
tāta kaccic ca kausalyā sumitrā ca prajāvatī
sukhinī kaccid āryā ca devī nandati kaikayī
And, dear one, are Kausalyā and Sumitrā, blessed with offspring, happy? And does the noble queen Kaikeyī rejoice?
Words: tāta — dear one; kaccic — and is it that; ca — and; kausalyā — Kausalyā; sumitrā — Sumitrā; ca — and; prajāvatī — blessed with offspring; sukhinī — happy; kaccid — is it that; āryā — the noble; ca — and; devī — queen; nandati — rejoices; kaikayī — Kaikeyī
2.94.7
kaccid vinaya saṃpannaḥ kulaputro bahuśrutaḥ
anasūyur anudraṣṭā satkṛtas te purohitaḥ
Is your family priest — endowed with good conduct, of noble birth, deeply learned, free from envy, and discerning — duly honored?
Words: kaccid — is it that; vinaya saṃpannaḥ — endowed with discipline; kulaputro — of noble family; bahuśrutaḥ — deeply learned; anasūyur — free from envy; anudraṣṭā — discerning, one who oversees; satkṛtas — honored; te — your; purohitaḥ — family priest
2.94.8
kaccid agniṣu te yukto vidhijño matimān ṛjuḥ
hutaṃ ca hoṣyamāṇaṃ ca kāle vedayate sadā
Is the one set over your sacred fires — knowing the rites, wise, upright — always informing you in time of what has been offered and what is yet to be offered?
Words: kaccid — is it that; agniṣu — over the fires; te — your; yukto — appointed, engaged; vidhijño — knowing the rites; matimān — wise; ṛjuḥ — upright; hutaṃ — what has been offered; ca — and; hoṣyamāṇaṃ — what is to be offered; ca — and; kāle — in time; vedayate — informs, reports; sadā — always
2.94.9
iṣvastravarasaṃpannam arthaśāstraviśāradam
sudhanvānam upādhyāyaṃ kaccit tvaṃ tāta manyase
Do you, dear one, esteem your preceptor Sudhanvan, master of the finest archery and weaponry, and skilled in the science of statecraft?
Words: iṣvastravarasaṃpannam — endowed with the best of arrows and weapons; arthaśāstraviśāradam — skilled in the science of polity; sudhanvānam — Sudhanvan (by name); upādhyāyaṃ — preceptor; kaccit — is it that; tvaṃ — you; tāta — dear one; manyase — esteem, regard
2.94.10
kaccid ātma samāḥ śūrāḥ śrutavanto jitendriyāḥ
kulīnāś ceṅgitajñāś ca kṛtās te tāta mantriṇaḥ
Are your ministers made men like yourself — brave, learned, self-controlled, of noble birth, and skilled in reading gestures, dear one?
Words: kaccid — is it that; ātma samāḥ — equal to yourself; śūrāḥ — brave; śrutavanto — learned; jitendriyāḥ — with senses conquered; kulīnāś — of noble birth; ceṅgitajñāś — and skilled in reading gestures; ca — and; kṛtās — made; te — your; tāta — dear one; mantriṇaḥ — ministers
2.94.11
mantro vijayamūlaṃ hi rājñāṃ bhavati rāghava
susaṃvṛto mantradharair amātyaiḥ śāstrakovidaiḥ
For counsel, well guarded by counsel-keeping ministers versed in the śāstras, becomes the root of victory for kings, O Rāghava.
Words: mantro — counsel; vijayamūlaṃ — the root of victory; hi — for; rājñāṃ — of kings; bhavati — becomes, is; rāghava — O Rāghava; susaṃvṛto — well guarded; mantradharair — by counsel-keepers; amātyaiḥ — by ministers; śāstrakovidaiḥ — versed in the śāstras
2.94.12
kaccin nidrāvaśaṃ naiṣi kaccit kāle vibudhyase
kac ciṃś cāpararātriṣu cintayasy arthanaipuṇam
Do you not fall under the sway of sleep? Do you wake at the proper hour? And in the last watches of the night do you ponder what is expedient in affairs?
Words: kaccin — is it that; nidrāvaśaṃ — under the sway of sleep; naiṣi — you do not fall into; kaccit — is it that; kāle — at the (right) time; vibudhyase — you wake up; kac ciṃś — and is it that (do you); cāpararātriṣu — and in the late watches of night; cintayasy — you ponder; arthanaipuṇam — skill in affairs, what is expedient
2.94.13
kaccin mantrayase naikaḥ kaccin na bahubhiḥ saha
kaccit te mantrito mantro rāṣṭraṃ na paridhāvati
Do you not deliberate alone, nor yet with too many? Does the counsel you have resolved not leak out over the kingdom?
Words: kaccin — is it that; mantrayase — you deliberate; naikaḥ — not alone; kaccin — is it that; na — not; bahubhiḥ — with many; saha — together with; kaccit — is it that; te — your; mantrito — deliberated, resolved; mantro — counsel; rāṣṭraṃ — the kingdom; na — not; paridhāvati — runs about, leaks out
2.94.14
kaccid arthaṃ viniścitya laghumūlaṃ mahodayam
kṣipram ārabhase kartuṃ na dīrghayasi rāghava
Having settled on an undertaking of small outlay and great result, do you set about it quickly and not drag it out, O Rāghava?
Words: kaccid — is it that; arthaṃ — the matter, aim; viniścitya — having determined; laghumūlaṃ — of small outlay; mahodayam — of great result; kṣipram — quickly; ārabhase — you undertake; kartuṃ — to do; na — not; dīrghayasi — you prolong, delay; rāghava — O Rāghava
2.94.15
kaccit tu sukṛtāny eva kṛtarūpāṇi vā punaḥ
vidus te sarvakāryāṇi na kartavyāni pārthivāḥ
Do rival kings come to know your undertakings only when they are already well accomplished, or at least as good as done — and never while still to be done?
Words: kaccit — is it that; tu — but, indeed; sukṛtāny — well-done; eva — only; kṛtarūpāṇi — as good as done; vā — or; punaḥ — again, at least; vidus — know; te — your; sarvakāryāṇi — all undertakings; na — not; kartavyāni — (while) yet to be done; pārthivāḥ — the (rival) kings
2.94.16
kaccin na tarkair yuktvā vā ye cāpy aparikīrtitāḥ
tvayā vā tava vāmātyair budhyate tāta mantritam
Is your resolved counsel never found out by others through mere conjecture, nor through matters left unproclaimed by you or by your ministers, dear one?
Words: kaccin — is it that; na — not; tarkair — by conjectures; yuktvā — having applied; vā — or; ye — which (matters); cāpy — and even; aparikīrtitāḥ — unproclaimed; tvayā — by you; vā — or; tava — your; vāmātyair — or by ministers; budhyate — is discerned; tāta — dear one; mantritam — the counsel
2.94.17
kaccit sahasrān mūrkhāṇām ekam icchasi paṇḍitam
paṇḍito hy arthakṛcchreṣu kuryān niḥśreyasaṃ mahat
Do you prefer one learned man to a thousand fools? For in times of dire need a learned man can accomplish great good.
Words: kaccit — is it that; sahasrān — than a thousand; mūrkhāṇām — of fools; ekam — one; icchasi — you prefer, desire; paṇḍitam — a learned man; paṇḍito — the learned man; hy — for; arthakṛcchreṣu — in dire straits of affairs; kuryān — could do; niḥśreyasaṃ — the highest good; mahat — great
2.94.18
sahasrāṇy api mūrkhāṇāṃ yady upāste mahīpatiḥ
atha vāpy ayutāny eva nāsti teṣu sahāyatā
Even if a king should retain thousands of fools, or even tens of thousands, there is no help to be had in them.
Words: sahasrāṇy — thousands; api — even; mūrkhāṇāṃ — of fools; yady — if; upāste — retains, attends on; mahīpatiḥ — the king; atha vāpy — or else; ayutāny — tens of thousands; eva — even; nāsti — there is not; teṣu — in them; sahāyatā — helpfulness, assistance
2.94.19
eko 'py amātyo medhāvī śūro dakṣo vicakṣaṇaḥ
rājānaṃ rājamātraṃ vā prāpayen mahatīṃ śriyam
Even a single minister who is wise, brave, capable, and discerning can bring a king, or a king's deputy, to great fortune.
Words: eko — one; 'py — even; amātyo — minister; medhāvī — wise, intelligent; śūro — brave; dakṣo — capable; vicakṣaṇaḥ — discerning; rājānaṃ — a king; rājamātraṃ — a mere king's officer, deputy; vā — or; prāpayen — could bring to; mahatīṃ — great; śriyam — fortune, prosperity
2.94.20
kaccin mukhyā mahatsv eva madhyameṣu ca madhyamāḥ
jaghanyāś ca jaghanyeṣu bhṛtyāḥ karmasu yojitāḥ
Are your servants set to their tasks by rank — the highest in high offices, the middling in middling ones, and the lowest in lowly ones?
Words: kaccin — is it that; mukhyā — the chief ones; mahatsv — in great (offices); eva — only; madhyameṣu — in middling (offices); ca — and; madhyamāḥ — the middling ones; jaghanyāś — the lowest; ca — and; jaghanyeṣu — in lowly (offices); bhṛtyāḥ — servants; karmasu — in tasks; yojitāḥ — engaged, employed
2.94.21
amātyān upadhātītān pitṛpaitāmahāñ śucīn
śreṣṭhāñ śreṣṭheṣu kaccit tvaṃ niyojayasi karmasu
Do you appoint to the highest offices ministers who have passed the tests of integrity, inherited from your fathers and grandfathers, pure, and the best in the best of tasks?
Words: amātyān — ministers; upadhātītān — who have passed the tests (of integrity); pitṛpaitāmahāñ — (inherited) from father and grandfather; śucīn — pure; śreṣṭhāñ — the best; śreṣṭheṣu — in the best (offices); kaccit — is it that; tvaṃ — you; niyojayasi — you appoint; karmasu — in tasks, offices
2.94.22
kaccit tvāṃ nāvajānanti yājakāḥ patitaṃ yathā
ugrapratigrahītāraṃ kāmayānam iva striyaḥ
Do your people not despise you, as officiating priests despise a fallen man, or as women despise a fierce, rapacious lecher?
Words: kaccit — is it that; tvāṃ — you; nāvajānanti — do not despise; yājakāḥ — sacrificial priests; patitaṃ — a fallen man; yathā — as; ugrapratigrahītāraṃ — a fierce, rapacious taker; kāmayānam — a lustful man; iva — as; striyaḥ — women
2.94.23
upāyakuśalaṃ vaidyaṃ bhṛtyasaṃdūṣaṇe ratam
śūram aiśvaryakāmaṃ ca yo na hanti sa vadhyate
Whoever fails to strike down a physician cunning in stratagems who is bent on corrupting his servants, and a bold man greedy for power, is himself struck down.
Words: upāyakuśalaṃ — skilled in stratagems; vaidyaṃ — a physician; bhṛtyasaṃdūṣaṇe — in corrupting the servants; ratam — intent; śūram — a bold man; aiśvaryakāmaṃ — greedy for power; ca — and; yo — who; na — not; hanti — slays, strikes down; sa — he; vadhyate — is (himself) slain
2.94.24
kaccid dhṛṣṭaś ca śūraś ca dhṛtimān matimāñ śuciḥ
kulīnaś cānuraktaś ca dakṣaḥ senāpatiḥ kṛtaḥ
Is your commander-in-chief a man made bold and brave, steadfast, wise, pure, of noble birth, devoted, and capable?
Words: kaccid — is it that; dhṛṣṭaś — bold; ca — and; śūraś — brave; ca — and; dhṛtimān — steadfast; matimāñ — wise; śuciḥ — pure; kulīnaś — of noble birth; cānuraktaś — and devoted; ca — and; dakṣaḥ — capable; senāpatiḥ — commander; kṛtaḥ — made
2.94.25
balavantaś ca kaccit te mukhyā yuddhaviśāradāḥ
dṛṣṭāpadānā vikrāntās tvayā satkṛtya mānitāḥ
And are your chief warriors — strong, skilled in battle, of proven exploits and valorous — duly honored and respected by you?
Words: balavantaś — strong; ca — and; kaccit — is it that; te — your; mukhyā — chief ones; yuddhaviśāradāḥ — skilled in battle; dṛṣṭāpadānā — of proven exploits; vikrāntās — valorous; tvayā — by you; satkṛtya — having honored; mānitāḥ — respected
2.94.26
ka cid balasya bhaktaṃ ca vetanaṃ ca yathocitam
saṃprāptakālaṃ dātavyaṃ dadāsi na vilambase
Do you give the army its due rations and pay, as befitting, when the time for it has come, and not delay?
Words: ka cid — is it that; balasya — of the army; bhaktaṃ — rations, food; ca — and; vetanaṃ — wages, pay; ca — and; yathocitam — as is fitting; saṃprāptakālaṃ — when the time has come; dātavyaṃ — to be given; dadāsi — you give; na — not; vilambase — you delay
2.94.27
kālātikramaṇe hy eva bhakta vetanayor bhṛtāḥ
bhartuḥ kupyanti duṣyanti so 'narthaḥ sumahān smṛtaḥ
For when the time for their rations and pay is overstepped, hired men grow enraged with their master and turn disloyal; that is reckoned a very great calamity.
Words: kālātikramaṇe — in overstepping the time; hy — for; eva — indeed; bhakta vetanayor — of rations and pay (both); bhṛtāḥ — the hired men; bhartuḥ — with their master; kupyanti — grow angry; duṣyanti — turn disloyal, corrupt; so — that; 'narthaḥ — calamity; sumahān — very great; smṛtaḥ — is reckoned
2.94.28
kaccit sarve 'nuraktās tvāṃ kulaputrāḥ pradhānataḥ
kaccit prāṇāṃs tavārtheṣu saṃtyajanti samāhitāḥ
Are all the noble-born chiefly devoted to you? Do they, resolute, lay down their very lives in your cause?
Words: kaccit — is it that; sarve — all; 'nuraktās — devoted; tvāṃ — to you; kulaputrāḥ — the noble-born; pradhānataḥ — chiefly, principally; kaccit — is it that; prāṇāṃs — their lives; tavārtheṣu — in your causes; saṃtyajanti — lay down, give up; samāhitāḥ — resolute, composed
2.94.29
kaccij jānapado vidvān dakṣiṇaḥ pratibhānavān
yathoktavādī dūtas te kṛto bharata paṇḍitaḥ
Is your envoy made a man of the realm, learned, dexterous, quick-witted, reporting exactly as instructed, and wise, O Bharata?
Words: kaccij — is it that; jānapado — a native of the realm; vidvān — learned; dakṣiṇaḥ — dexterous, able; pratibhānavān — quick-witted; yathoktavādī — reporting exactly as told; dūtas — envoy; te — your; kṛto — made; bharata — O Bharata; paṇḍitaḥ — learned, wise
2.94.30
kaccid aṣṭādaśāny eṣu svapakṣe daśa pañca ca
tribhis tribhir avijñātair vetsi tīrthāni cārakaiḥ
Do you keep watch, through three unknown spies for each, on the eighteen high officials of the foe and the fifteen on your own side?
Words: kaccid — is it that; aṣṭādaśāny — the eighteen; eṣu — among these; svapakṣe — on one's own side; daśa — ten; pañca — five; ca — and; tribhis — by three; tribhir — by three (each); avijñātair — unknown, unrecognized; vetsi — you keep track of; tīrthāni — the (vulnerable) posts, key offices; cārakaiḥ — by spies
2.94.31
kaccid vyapāstān ahitān pratiyātāṃś ca sarvadā
durbalān anavajñāya vartase ripusūdana
O slayer of foes, do you always deal with your driven-off enemies who have returned without underestimating them, weak though they be?
Words: kaccid — is it that; vyapāstān — driven off, cast out; ahitān — enemies; pratiyātāṃś — (who have) come back; ca — and; sarvadā — always; durbalān — the weak; anavajñāya — not underrating; vartase — you conduct yourself; ripusūdana — O slayer of foes
2.94.32
kaccin na lokāyatikān brāhmaṇāṃs tāta sevase
anartha kuśalā hy ete bālāḥ paṇḍitamāninaḥ
Do you not, dear one, resort to brāhmaṇas of the materialist school? For these are adept only at mischief — mere fools who fancy themselves learned.
Words: kaccin — is it that; na — not; lokāyatikān — materialists (followers of Lokāyata); brāhmaṇāṃs — brāhmaṇas; tāta — dear one; sevase — you resort to, serve; anartha kuśalā — adept at mischief; hy — for; ete — these; bālāḥ — childish, fools; paṇḍitamāninaḥ — fancying themselves learned
2.94.33
dharmaśāstreṣu mukhyeṣu vidyamāneṣu durbudhāḥ
buddhimān vīkṣikīṃ prāpya nirarthaṃ pravadanti te
Though the principal treatises on dharma are at hand, those dull-witted men — each fancying himself wise — resort to bare logic and prate to no purpose.
Words: dharmaśāstreṣu — in the treatises on dharma; mukhyeṣu — the principal; vidyamāneṣu — being available, at hand; durbudhāḥ — the dull-witted; buddhimān — the (self-styled) wise; vīkṣikīṃ — the science of logic; prāpya — having resorted to; nirarthaṃ — to no purpose; pravadanti — they prate, declaim; te — they
2.94.34
vīrair adhyuṣitāṃ pūrvam asmākaṃ tāta pūrvakaiḥ
satyanāmāṃ dṛḍhadvārāṃ hastyaśvarathasaṃkulām
Do you well protect Ayodhyā — inhabited of old by our heroic forebears, dear one, true to its name, with sturdy gates, thronged with elephants, horses, and chariots,
Words: vīrair — by heroes; adhyuṣitāṃ — inhabited; pūrvam — of old, formerly; asmākaṃ — our; tāta — dear one; pūrvakaiḥ — by ancestors, forebears; satyanāmāṃ — true to its name; dṛḍhadvārāṃ — with sturdy gates; hastyaśvarathasaṃkulām — thronged with elephants, horses, and chariots
2.94.35
brāhmaṇaiḥ kṣatriyair vaiśyaiḥ svakarmanirataiḥ sadā
jitendriyair mahotsāhair vṛtāmātyaiḥ sahasraśaḥ
filled with brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, and vaiśyas ever devoted to their own duties, self-controlled and of great energy, and thronged by ministers in their thousands,
Words: brāhmaṇaiḥ — by brāhmaṇas; kṣatriyair — by kṣatriyas; vaiśyaiḥ — by vaiśyas; svakarmanirataiḥ — devoted to their own duties; sadā — always; jitendriyair — with senses conquered; mahotsāhair — of great energy; vṛtāmātyaiḥ — surrounded by ministers; sahasraśaḥ — by the thousand
2.94.36
prāsādair vividhākārair vṛtāṃ vaidyajanākulām
kaccit samuditāṃ sphītām ayodhyāṃ parirakṣasi
girt with palaces of every kind and thronged with learned folk — do you protect Ayodhyā well, prosperous and flourishing?
Words: prāsādair — with palaces; vividhākārair — of various forms; vṛtāṃ — surrounded, girt; vaidyajanākulām — thronged with learned folk; kaccit — is it that; samuditāṃ — prosperous, flourishing; sphītām — swollen, thriving; ayodhyāṃ — Ayodhyā; parirakṣasi — you protect well
2.94.37
kaccic caityaśatair juṣṭaḥ suniviṣṭajanākulaḥ
devasthānaiḥ prapābhiś ca taḍāgaiś copaśobhitaḥ
Is the realm graced with hundreds of shrines, crowded with well-settled folk, and adorned with temples, water-halls, and tanks,
Words: kaccic — is it that; caityaśatair — with hundreds of shrines; juṣṭaḥ — graced, endowed; suniviṣṭajanākulaḥ — crowded with well-settled people; devasthānaiḥ — with temples; prapābhiś — with water-halls; ca — and; taḍāgaiś — with tanks, ponds; copaśobhitaḥ — and adorned
2.94.38
prahṛṣṭanaranārīkaḥ samājotsavaśobhitaḥ
sukṛṣṭasīmā paśumān hiṃsābhir abhivarjitaḥ
with its men and women full of joy, resplendent with assemblies and festivals, its fields well tilled, rich in cattle, free from acts of violence,
Words: prahṛṣṭanaranārīkaḥ — with joyful men and women; samājotsavaśobhitaḥ — resplendent with assemblies and festivals; sukṛṣṭasīmā — with well-plowed borderlands; paśumān — rich in cattle; hiṃsābhir — by acts of violence; abhivarjitaḥ — free from, devoid of
2.94.39
adevamātṛko ramyaḥ śvāpadaiḥ parivarjitaḥ
kaccij janapadaḥ sphītaḥ sukhaṃ vasati rāghava
not dependent on rain alone, delightful, and free of beasts of prey — does your thriving realm, O Rāghava, dwell in happiness?
Words: adevamātṛko — not dependent on rain (well-watered); ramyaḥ — delightful; śvāpadaiḥ — by beasts of prey; parivarjitaḥ — free from; kaccij — is it that; janapadaḥ — the realm, country; sphītaḥ — thriving, prosperous; sukhaṃ — happily; vasati — dwells; rāghava — O Rāghava
2.94.40
kaccit te dayitāḥ sarve kṛṣigorakṣajīvinaḥ
vārtāyāṃ saṃśritas tāta loko hi sukham edhate
Are all those who live by farming and cattle-keeping dear to you? For the people who depend on husbandry, dear one, thrive in happiness.
Words: kaccit — is it that; te — to you; dayitāḥ — dear, cherished; sarve — all; kṛṣigorakṣajīvinaḥ — those living by farming and cattle-tending; vārtāyāṃ — on husbandry; saṃśritas — dependent, resorting; tāta — dear one; loko — the people; hi — for; sukham — happily; edhate — thrives, prospers
2.94.41
teṣāṃ guptiparīhāraiḥ kaccit te bharaṇaṃ kṛtam
rakṣyā hi rājñā dharmeṇa sarve viṣayavāsinaḥ
Do you provide for their upkeep by protection and the redress of grievances? For all who dwell in the realm must be protected by the king according to dharma.
Words: teṣāṃ — their, of them; guptiparīhāraiḥ — by protection and warding off of troubles; kaccit — is it that; te — by you; bharaṇaṃ — maintenance, support; kṛtam — done, made; rakṣyā — to be protected; hi — for; rājñā — by the king; dharmeṇa — according to dharma; sarve — all; viṣayavāsinaḥ — the dwellers in the realm
2.94.42
kaccit striyaḥ sāntvayasi kaccit tāś ca surakṣitāḥ
kaccin na śraddadhāsyāsāṃ kaccid guhyaṃ na bhāṣase
Do you comfort the women of your household? Are they well protected? Do you not put excessive trust in them, nor tell them a secret?
Words: kaccit — is it that; striyaḥ — the women; sāntvayasi — you comfort, console; kaccit — is it that; tāś — they; ca — and; surakṣitāḥ — well protected; kaccin — is it that; na — not; śraddadhāsyāsāṃ — you (do not) trust in them; kaccid — is it that; guhyaṃ — a secret; na — not; bhāṣase — you tell
2.94.43
kaccin nāga vanaṃ guptaṃ kuñjarāṇaṃ ca tṛpyasi
kaccid darśayase nityaṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ vibhūṣitam
utthāyotthāya pūrvāhṇe rājaputro mahāpathe
Is the elephant-forest well guarded, and are you satisfied with your supply of elephants? Do you, a prince, constantly show yourself adorned to the people upon the great highway, rising early each morning?
Words: kaccin — is it that; nāga vanaṃ — the elephant-forest; guptaṃ — guarded, protected; kuñjarāṇaṃ — with elephants; ca — and; tṛpyasi — you are satisfied; kaccid — is it that; darśayase — you show (yourself); nityaṃ — constantly; manuṣyāṇāṃ — to the people (of men); vibhūṣitam — adorned; utthāyotthāya — rising again and again; pūrvāhṇe — in the early morning; rājaputro — a king's son, prince; mahāpathe — on the great highway
2.94.44
kaccit sarvāṇi durgāṇi dhanadhānyāyudhodakaiḥ
yantraiś ca paripūrṇāni tathā śilpidhanurdharaiḥ
Are all your fortresses well stocked with money, grain, weapons, and water, with engines of war, and likewise with artisans and archers?
Words: kaccit — is it that; sarvāṇi — all; durgāṇi — the fortresses; dhanadhānyāyudhodakaiḥ — with wealth, grain, weapons, and water; yantraiś — with engines (of war); ca — and; paripūrṇāni — filled, well-stocked; tathā — likewise; śilpidhanurdharaiḥ — with artisans and bowmen
2.94.45
āyas te vipulaḥ kaccit kaccid alpataro vyayaḥ
apātreṣu na te kaccit kośo gacchati rāghava
Is your income ample and your expenditure the smaller? Does your treasure not go, O Rāghava, to unworthy recipients?
Words: āyas — income; te — your; vipulaḥ — ample, large; kaccit — is it that; kaccid — is it that; alpataro — smaller; vyayaḥ — expenditure; apātreṣu — to the unworthy; na — not; te — your; kaccit — is it that; kośo — treasure, treasury; gacchati — goes; rāghava — O Rāghava
2.94.46
devatārthe ca pitrarthe brāhmaṇābhyāgateṣu ca
yodheṣu mitravargeṣu kaccid gacchati te vyayaḥ
Does your expenditure go toward the gods and the ancestors, toward brāhmaṇas and arriving guests, toward your warriors and the circle of your friends?
Words: devatārthe — for the sake of the gods; ca — and; pitrarthe — for the sake of the ancestors; brāhmaṇābhyāgateṣu — toward brāhmaṇas and arriving guests; ca — and; yodheṣu — toward warriors; mitravargeṣu — toward the circle of friends; kaccid — is it that; gacchati — goes; te — your; vyayaḥ — expenditure
2.94.47
kaccid āryo viśuddhātmā kṣāritaś corakarmaṇā
apṛṣṭaḥ śāstrakuśalair na lobhād badhyate śuciḥ
When a noble man of pure soul is falsely charged with an act of theft, is he — being innocent — not condemned unexamined, out of greed, by those skilled in the law?
Words: kaccid — is it that; āryo — a noble man; viśuddhātmā — of pure soul; kṣāritaś — accused, charged; corakarmaṇā — with an act of theft; apṛṣṭaḥ — unexamined, unquestioned; śāstrakuśalair — by those skilled in the law; na — not; lobhād — out of greed; badhyate — is condemned, punished; śuciḥ — the pure (innocent) man
2.94.48
gṛhītaś caiva pṛṣṭaś ca kāle dṛṣṭaḥ sakāraṇaḥ
kaccin na mucyate coro dhanalobhān nararṣabha
And when a thief has been seized, interrogated, and duly found guilty with cause proven, is he not, O bull among men, released for greed of money?
Words: gṛhītaś — seized; caiva — and indeed; pṛṣṭaś — questioned; ca — and; kāle — in due time; dṛṣṭaḥ — seen, found; sakāraṇaḥ — with cause (guilty); kaccin — is it that; na — not; mucyate — is released; coro — the thief; dhanalobhān — out of greed for money; nararṣabha — O bull among men
2.94.49
vyasane kaccid āḍhyasya dugatasya ca rāghava
arthaṃ virāgāḥ paśyanti tavāmātyā bahuśrutāḥ
When a dispute arises between a rich man and a poor man, O Rāghava, do your learned ministers judge the matter free of bias?
Words: vyasane — in a dispute, litigation; kaccid — is it that; āḍhyasya — of the rich man; durgatasya — of the poor, wretched man; ca — and; rāghava — O Rāghava; arthaṃ — the matter, case; virāgāḥ — free of bias, impartial; paśyanti — regard, judge; tavāmātyā — your ministers; bahuśrutāḥ — deeply learned
2.94.50
yāni mithyābhiśastānāṃ patanty asrāṇi rāghava
tāni putrapaśūn ghnanti prītyartham anuśāsataḥ
The tears that fall from those falsely accused, O Rāghava, destroy the sons and cattle of a ruler who governs only for his own pleasure.
Words: yāni — which (tears); mithyābhiśastānāṃ — of the falsely accused; patanty — fall; asrāṇi — tears; rāghava — O Rāghava; tāni — those (tears); putrapaśūn — sons and cattle; ghnanti — slay, destroy; prītyartham — for the sake of (his own) pleasure; anuśāsataḥ — of the ruler who governs
2.94.51
kaccid vṛdhāṃś ca bālāṃś ca vaidyamukhyāṃś ca rāghava
dānena manasā vācā tribhir etair bubhūṣase
Do you seek to sustain the aged, the young, and the chief physicians, O Rāghava, by these three — gift, thought, and word?
Words: kaccid — is it that; vṛdhāṃś — the aged; ca — and; bālāṃś — the young, children; ca — and; vaidyamukhyāṃś — the chief physicians; ca — and; rāghava — O Rāghava; dānena — by gift; manasā — by thought; vācā — by word; tribhir — by three; etair — these; bubhūṣase — you seek to sustain, cherish
2.94.52
kaccid gurūṃś ca vṛddhāṃś ca tāpasān devatātithīn
caityāṃś ca sarvān siddhārthān brāhmaṇāṃś ca namasyasi
Do you pay homage to elders and the aged, to ascetics, to gods and guests, to all wish-fulfilling shrines, and to brāhmaṇas?
Words: kaccid — is it that; gurūṃś — elders, teachers; ca — and; vṛddhāṃś — the aged; ca — and; tāpasān — ascetics; devatātithīn — gods and guests; caityāṃś — shrines; ca — and; sarvān — all; siddhārthān — wish-fulfilling; brāhmaṇāṃś — brāhmaṇas; ca — and; namasyasi — you pay homage to
2.94.53
kaccid arthena vā dharmaṃ dharmaṃ dharmeṇa vā punaḥ
ubhau vā prītilobhena kāmena na vibādhase
Do you never injure dharma by wealth, nor dharma again by (misapplied) dharma, nor both by pleasure prompted by fond greed?
Words: kaccid — is it that; arthena — by wealth; vā — or; dharmaṃ — dharma; dharmaṃ — dharma; dharmeṇa — by dharma; vā — or; punaḥ — again; ubhau — both; vā — or; prītilobhena — by fond greed; kāmena — by desire, pleasure; na — not; vibādhase — you injure, oppress
2.94.54
kaccid arthaṃ ca dharmaṃ ca kāmaṃ ca jayatāṃ vara
vibhajya kāle kālajña sarvān bharata sevase
O best of conquerors, O knower of the season, apportioning them each to their proper time, do you attend to all three — wealth, dharma, and pleasure — O Bharata?
Words: kaccid — is it that; arthaṃ — wealth; ca — and; dharmaṃ — dharma; ca — and; kāmaṃ — pleasure; ca — and; jayatāṃ vara — O best of conquerors; vibhajya — having apportioned; kāle — at the (right) time; kālajña — O knower of time; sarvān — all (three); bharata — O Bharata; sevase — you attend to, pursue
2.94.55
kaccit te brāhmaṇāḥ śarma sarvaśāstrārthakovidaḥ
āśaṃsante mahāprājña paurajānapadaiḥ saha
O deeply wise one, do the brāhmaṇas, versed in the meaning of all the śāstras, together with townsfolk and country-folk, wish you well-being?
Words: kaccit — is it that; te — for you; brāhmaṇāḥ — the brāhmaṇas; śarma — welfare, blessing; sarvaśāstrārthakovidaḥ — versed in the meaning of all śāstras; āśaṃsante — wish, hope for; mahāprājña — O deeply wise one; paurajānapadaiḥ — with townsfolk and country-folk; saha — together with
2.94.56
nāstikyam anṛtaṃ krodhaṃ pramādaṃ dīrghasūtratām
adarśanaṃ jñānavatām ālasyaṃ pañcavṛttitām
Godlessness, falsehood, anger, heedlessness, procrastination, failure to consult the wise, sloth, and enslavement to the five senses;
Words: nāstikyam — godlessness, disbelief; anṛtaṃ — falsehood; krodhaṃ — anger; pramādaṃ — heedlessness, negligence; dīrghasūtratām — procrastination; adarśanaṃ — the non-consulting; jñānavatām — of the wise; ālasyaṃ — sloth, laziness; pañcavṛttitām — enslavement to the five (senses)
2.94.57
ekacintanam arthānām anarthajñaiś ca mantraṇam
niścitānām anārambhaṃ mantrasyāparilakṣaṇam
deliberating alone on affairs, taking counsel with men ignorant of them, failure to launch what has been decided, and the failure to keep counsel secret;
Words: ekacintanam — deliberating alone; arthānām — of affairs; anarthajñaiś — with those ignorant of affairs; ca — and; mantraṇam — taking counsel; niścitānām — of things decided; anārambhaṃ — the non-undertaking; mantrasyāparilakṣaṇam — the failure to keep counsel secret
2.94.58
maṅgalasyāprayogaṃ ca pratyutthānaṃ ca sarvaśaḥ
kaccit tvaṃ varjayasy etān rājadoṣāṃś caturdaśa
the neglect of auspicious observances, and rising up in war against all indiscriminately — do you shun these fourteen faults of a king?
Words: maṅgalasyāprayogaṃ — the non-performance of auspicious rites; ca — and; pratyutthānaṃ — rising up (against all); ca — and; sarvaśaḥ — against all, in every way; kaccit — is it that; tvaṃ — you; varjayasy — you shun, avoid; etān — these; rājadoṣāṃś — the faults of a king; caturdaśa — fourteen
2.94.59
kaccit svādukṛtaṃ bhojyam eko nāśnāsi rāghava
kaccid āśaṃsamānebhyo mitrebhyaḥ saṃprayacchasi
Do you not eat delicious food alone, O Rāghava? Do you share it with friends who look to you in hope?
Words: kaccit — is it that; svādukṛtaṃ — made delicious; bhojyam — food; eko — alone; nāśnāsi — you do not eat; rāghava — O Rāghava; kaccid — is it that; āśaṃsamānebhyo — to those who look to you in hope; mitrebhyaḥ — to friends; saṃprayacchasi — you share, distribute
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Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.
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