भरत reaches out to राम who was staying at चित्रकूट during his vanavasa. After a long journey, before भरत begins to talk (owing to huge amount of emotion in meeting his brother), राम starts the conversation by asking him as to why भरत was running the राज्य. राम asks a long list of questions on whether भरत is indeed governing the राज्य as per principles of धर्म. This discussion comes up in the 100^th सर्ग of the अयोध्या कांड of the वाल्मीकि रामायण. It is interesting to see that the model role of a State is not seen in terms of a modern socialist welfare State. Instead, it is seen as primarily discharging the role of defence, law and order, encouraging meritocracy, administering justice and pushing citizens towards living a moral way of life – if these are addressed, State will live prosperously and people’s own enterprise will contribute to growth of the State.

Stress on secrecy in conduct of State actions

1. I hope मंत्री’s appointed by you are full of शूर and aware of स्रुति like you, have control over their इंद्रिय, belong to an educated family and know the meaning of signs.
2. Do know that मंत्री who are your foremost counsellors and well-versed with the political structure of the State are capable of guarding (State) secrets – this is a key determiner for victory of kings (meaning beneficial to the State).
3. I hope you do not fall prey to excess sleep and excess waking. And do you (continually) contemplate on how to increase the prosperity of the State even at late hours in the night?
4. I hope you do not deliberate on matters relating to the State alone nor do you take the counsel or opinion of too many people.
5. I hope the decision arrived at by you through consultation with your advisors does not reach the public (before the decision is carried out formally).
6. I hope, considering your interest fully, you launch a new venture on the right occasion with a modest start but pregnant of possibilities, and do not defer the decision.
7. I hope your State citizens actually know of all your projects only when they have been duly carried out or just getting carried out and not before they are yet to be carried out.
8. I hope your consultations with your staff on matters which have not yet become public are not known through guess-work or reasoning (to the citizens) and the consultation of others (enemies or Citizens) are known by yourself and your मंत्री (before they materialize).

Focus on merit of State employees

9. I hope you prefer one पंडित to thousands of मूर्ख inasmuch as a पंडित is calculated to do immense good in a financial crisis
10. If a king maintains thousands or even tens of thousands of मूर्ख, no assistance can be expected from them (in times of need).
11. Even on मंत्री who is a मेधावी, शूर, clever and well-versed in politics can bring a large fortune to a king or a prince (benefit to the State is to be seen here).
12. I hope highly talented staff are entrusted with the most important duties, middling ones second-rate affairs and third-grade staff with menial duties.
13. I hope you entrust the best मंत्री who have a proven track record and have a long experience working with the State with the highest duties.
14. I hope the citizens, agitated by the stern rule of the State, are not showing disrespect to the मंत्री (this becomes a measure of whether the State has talented staff).
15. I hope the याजक who conduct यज्ञ for the benefit of others in the society do not disregard you (by not wanting to attend such functions) as they would behave with a fallen man or as a woman will despise her own husband who brings another woman home owing to his own lust (this is again a measure of whether citizens have a trust on their king).
16. A king who does not get rid of physicians who are good at worsening the disease within their patients or an employee intent of bringing disgrace to the employer or a soldier who is intent of going against the State is himself killed (once again, quality of doctors, soldiers, etc needs to be maintained).
17. I hope the सेनापति you have appointed is one who is joyful, decisive, heroic and talented, has a spotless character, comes from a good family, is dedicated and clever.
18. Make sure that the best of Army staff, who are possessed of might and skilled in warfare are respected with due honour bestowed onto them by the State (motivation of Army staff is essential).
19. I hope that all staff working for the State are given facilities including salaries at an opportune time and such payments are not delayed. Salaried staff surely and positively become unhappy at the State when the distribution of the facilities and disbursal of their salary are delayed and such a state of affairs will be very harmful (for the State).
20. I hope the key members of Group (क्षत्रिय) that you belong to are dedicated to you (meaning that the groups that a king is a part of must have respect for the king). And they are willing to lay down their lives for you with dedication and in a cheerful manner.
21. Has the दूत (ambassadors) appointed by you is learned, clever, ready-witted and capable of conveying the State messages correctly and who is able to distinguish between right and wrong?

Monitoring of State activities

22. Do you keep an eye on the eighteen functionaries of the enemies and fifteen functionaries of your own side through three unknown spies told off for each? (the eighteen are – 1) Chief Minister, 2) the king’s family priest, 3) the crown prince, 4) the सेनापति, 5) chief Police officer, 6) Officer who manages the household of the King (अन्त: पुराध्यक्ष), 7) Superintendent of jails (कारागाराध्यक्ष), 8) Head of Treasury (धनाध्यक्ष), 9) one who conveys State messages to Citizens (राजराजाज्ञ्या आज्ञाप्येषु वक्ता), 10) the Government advocate (पाङ्विवाकसंज्ञो व्यवहारप्रष्टा), 11) the Judge (धर्मासनाधिकृत), 12) Assessor (व्यवहारनिर्णेता सभेयाख्य), 13) Officer disbursing salaries to Army (सेनया जीवनभृतिदानाध्यक्ष), 14) Officer drawing money from State treasury and disbursing salaries to State staff (कर्मान्ते वेतनग्राही), 15) State Security Chief (नगररक्षक), 16) Border Police chief as well as one who is in charge of forests (राष्ट्रान्त: पालक: अयमेवाटविक:), 17) the Magistrate (दुष्टानां दण्डनाधिकारी) and 18) Officer given charge of conservation of water, hills, forests and areas difficult to access (जलगिरिवनदुर्गस्थलपाल:). Fifteen of king’s own side excludes the first three in the list of eighteen).
23. I hope you are ever mindful of your enemies expelled (from their home by you) and since returned, even though there are apparently weak.
24. I hope you do not patronize ब्राह्मण who are लोकायत (meaning materialists who are not aligned to the वेद) for ignorant and conceited as they are, they are skilled only in perverting the mind (and thereby divering the minds of people from acts of धर्म). Banking solely on their logical abilities, these men of perverted बुद्धि preach nonsense even in the presence of foremost books on धर्म.
25. I hope you protect from all sides the city of अयोध्या, rightly so-called (अयोध्या means that which has not been defeated in war) lived by our heroic ancestors, which is provided with strong gates and remains crowded with elephants, horses and chariots, which is inhabited by thousands of noble ब्राह्मण, क्षत्रिय and वैश्य – who are ever devoted to their duties, have subdued their इंद्रिय and are full of enterprise – which is crowded with palatial buildings and is thronged with learned men and full of highly contended people.
26. I hope the kingdom – which is overspread with hundreds of altars (for performing यज्ञ) and crowded with established men, which is adorned with temples, sheds (or tanks) where water is stocked for free distribution to passers-by and peopled with highly delighted men and women, which is graced by social festivities and abounds in cattle, which is totally free from violence and does not depend (exclusively) on rains (for its agricultural practices) which is charming and is purged of beasts of prey, which is completely rid of all fears and studded with mines, which has got rid of sinful men and well protected by our ancestors – is prosperous and faring well.
27. I hope the वैश्य are all loved by you. Are these people depending as they do on the vocation of a वैश्य are thriving well at present? I hope you are protecting the वैश्य by making them available all the objects desired by them and warding off evil; for all the inhabitants of one’s land deserve to be protected righteously by a King (essentially, State must ensure an ecosystem of ease of business which includes good Security environment).
28. Do you keep your womenfolk in a state of peace? Are they duly protected by you? I hope you do not put excessive faith in them and do not confide your secrets to them? (this message may appear as mistrustful of women but that is not so. The message is that while women should be treated well, one must not reveal State secrets to women from one’s own family too by assuming that family members will also keep such aspects secretive).

Focus areas for administration

29. Are the forests which are home of elephants preserved by you? Are milch cows in abundance with you?
30. I hope you do not feel satisfied with the (existing) number of female elephants, horses and elephants (owned by you)? (I am not sure why this is here – the translation I am referring to does not seem correct here).
31. Getting up regularly every day, do you show yourself well-adorned to the people in the assembly hall in the forenoon? (Essentially, the king must look and feel prosperous rather than showing poverty in his demeanor).
32. I hope all your Staff who not appear unhesitatingly before you nor are they kept altogether out of sight? In fact, a middle course is undoubtedly profitable in this behalf. (Dignity of position must be maintained by people in positions of power – both open access and zero access must be avoided).
33. Are all the fortifications fully supplied with wealth and provisions, arms and water, mechanical equipment and adequate availability of artisans and bowmen?
34. Is your income sufficiently large and your expenditure comparatively less?
35. I hope your wealth does not go to undeserving men.
36. I hope your wealth is spent in the cause of the देवता and पितर as well as over the ब्राह्मण’s and unexpected visitors, warriors and hosts of friends.

Presence of Rule of law

37. I hope no pious person who is pure of mind and has done no पाप, is convicted from greed when charged with some offence, though not found guilty by those well-versed in धर्म texts.
38. I hope no thief who has been detected at the time of theft and apprehended on sufficient ground and also questioned (and found guilty) is released from greed of wealth.
39. In an unhappy contention between an affluent and (financially) feeble man, do your मंत्री of vast learning judge the case impartially? The tears that drop from the eyes of men falsely convicted destroys the sons and cattle of a king who rules the people (merely) for the sake of pleasure (caring little for equity and justice).

Personal conduct of a leader in society

40. Do you seek to win over the elders, children and foremost of doctors by following the three means – by being charitable, by having a loving mind towards them and by use of polite language?
41. Do you greet your teachers and elders, ascetics, deities and unexpected visitors as well as all the trees standing at the cross-roads and the ब्राह्मण’s who have achieved the purpose of their life?
42. I hope you do not cause interruption in your नित्य धर्म कर्म (like संध्या, पूजा, etc) by your excessive devotion to wealth (and devoting the morning hours and dawn time to the pursuit of wealth and other secular interests) nor do you avoid your earthly interests by being excessively devoted to धर्म (and allowing your religious duties to interfere with your responsibility to earn wealth and pursuing secular interests during daytime) nor do you harm pursuit of धर्म and secular interests by your self-indulgence in the form of obsessed with gratification of इंद्रिय. (One of the best messages – one must pursue balance between अध्यात्म and non-अध्यात्म कर्म rather than focused on one aspect only).
43. So you pursue all three aspects of purpose of life viz धर्म, अर्थ and काम dividing them according to time knowing as you do the time appropriate for each of them?

Conduct of Kings (or State) vis a vis others in the society

44. Do the ब्राह्मण’s who have thoroughly grasped the meaning of the शास्त्र’s pray for your welfare along with that of the citizens of the country as well as people on the country-side? (A ब्राह्मण is solely meant to live for others and pray for welfare of all people in the society all the time).
45. Do you avoid the fourteen following failings of kings viz 1) disbelief in the word of the वेद, 2) untruthfulness (through greed, etc), 3) anger, 4) neglect of kingly duties, 5) procrastination, 6) avoiding the wise, 7) laziness, 8) tied to the इंद्रिय, 9) devoting thought to the affairs of the State without seeking advice of others, 10) taking advice from those having perverted opinions, 11) failure to launch projects (already) decided upon, 12) failure to keep secrets, 13) failure to utter auspicious words at the beginning of every undertaking and 14) rising from one’s seat (indiscriminately) to receive all (who happen to approach him).
46. I hope you deal properly after knowing them in reality with the
    1. ten evils,
    2. five kinds of fortifications,
    3. four expedients (recommended for kings),
    4. seven limbs of State,
    5. the eight evils (born of anger) or
    6. the eight measures (conducive to the welfare of the State),
    7. the three objects of human pursuit or
    8. the three kinds of power (viz enthusiasm, power of self-belief and power of good advisors),
    9. the three branches of learning (the three वेद, knowledge relating to agriculture, commerce or other vocational pursuits and political science),
    10. subjugation of the इंद्रिय,
    11. six strategic expedients (coming to terms with the enemy, waging the war against him, marching against the enemy, biding one’s time seeking favourable opportunity, causing dissention in enemy’s ranks and seeking the protection of a powerful ally),
    12. adversity brought about by divine agencies (such as fire, water in the shape of floods or rains, epidemic or endemic diseases, famine and plagues) and by human agencies (such as officials, thieves, enemies, king’s favourites and king himself when driven by greed),
    13. the (stern) duty of a king (as dictated by policy such as to win over enemy’s men whose emoluments have been withheld, who are greedy or haughty who have suffered indignity at his hands, who are irate or have been provoked by him for no reason, who are afraid or have been intimidated),
    14. the following twenty types of kings (who are not worth negotiating with viz 1) a king who is yet a child or 2) aged or 3) who have been ailing for some time or 4) who has been ostracized by his own kith and kin or 5) who is timid, or 6) is surrounded by cowards, or 7) who is greedy, or 8) who has greedy associates, or 9) who has pushed away his ministers and other, or 10) who is extremely voluptuous, or 11) who takes advice of fickle-minded persons, or 12) who speaks ill of divine beings and ब्राह्मण’s, or 13) who is ill-fated, or 14) a fatalist, or 15) who is afflicted by famine, or 16) who is afflicted by military reverses, or 17) who mostly remains away from home, or 18) who has numerous enemies, or 19) who is in the clutches of adverse times and 20) who is not devoted to truth and piety
47. The entire population setting forth on an expedition, drawing up an army in battle-array coming to terms with an enemy and waging war against him – the first of which serves as a ground for the two policies of duplicity and seeking protection of a powerful enemy; while the other serves as a ground for the other two policies of marching against the enemy and biding time to seek a favorable opportunity to march against an enemy (these lines are not very clear to me)
48. Do you hold consultations in accordance with rules of the शास्त्र with only four or three (selected) advisors collectively or severally (to guard against a split among them and to prevent secrets from leaking out)?

Other areas of conduct

49. Has your study of the वेद borne fruit (in the shape of moulding your conduct according to the rules of the शास्त्र?
50. Are your undertakings fruitful?
51. Has your spouse given birth to an offspring?
52. Has your learning borne fruit (in the shape of culture and humility)? I hope your conclusions (from the learning) is precisely the same as mine which has been set forth in the various statements made by me earlier and which is conducive to longevity and fame and is attended with धर्म, अर्थ and काम?
53. Do you follow the way of life that other father has been taking and which our ancestors have also taken, which is in accordance with the way of virtuous and which is righteous (in itself)?
54. I hope you do not eat food nicely cooked by yourself and hope you offer it to friends who seek it.
55. Having obtained power and using this to rule in the right way over the kingdom, a wise क्षत्रिय holds sway over the earth and administering justice to the people quite in consonance with righteousness surely ascends to स्वर्ग when detached from this (mortal) body.

OM TAT SAT

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Source: Srimad Valmiki Ramayana by Gita Press, Gorakhpur, India

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