The Virtuous Ministers of Dasaratha
Balakanda - Sarga 7
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Balakanda - Sarga 7
King Dasaratha, a great ruler from the Ikshvaku dynasty, had excellent ministers. These ministers were:
Skilled advisors
Able to understand people's intentions from their facial expressions
Always focused on doing what was good for the king and his kingdom
The king had eight famous ministers who were:
Honest in their work
Always devoted to their royal duties
Their names were:
Dhrishti
Jayanta
Vijaya
Siddhartha
Arthasadhaka
Ashoka
Mantrapala
Sumantra
The king also had two highly respected family priests:
Vasishta
Vamadeva
There were other advisors too. All these ministers and advisors were:
Well-educated
Modest
Skilled in their work
Self-controlled
Wealthy
Noble
Knowledgeable about laws and traditions
Strong and determined
Famous
Focused on their duties
True to their word
Powerful, forgiving, and well-known
Always spoke with a smile
These ministers never lied, even when angry or tempted by money or desires. They knew everything that was happening in their kingdom and in enemy territories, including:
What was being done
What had been done
What was planned to be done
They learned this information through spies. The ministers were good at dealing with people and loyal to their friends. They gave fair punishments, even to their own sons when necessary.
The ministers of King Dasaratha were excellent at their jobs:
They were experts at managing the kingdom's money and army
They never punished innocent people, even if they didn't like them
They were brave and always worked hard
They followed the rules of good government
They always protected good people living in the kingdom
The ministers were careful in their duties:
They didn't harm holy men (brahmanas) or warriors (kshatriyas)
They kept the treasury full
They gave strict punishments, but only after carefully thinking about the person's strengths and weaknesses
Under their rule:
Everyone in the city and kingdom was honest
No one told lies
No one was wicked or tried to steal other people's wives
Peace and calm were everywhere in the empire and its best city
The ministers themselves were admirable:
They wore good clothes and looked nice
They had good character
They were always alert, using their knowledge of politics to help the king
They learned good qualities from their elders
They were famous for their bravery
They were known for their intelligence, even in other countries
The ministers were also skilled in diplomacy:
They knew when to make peace or go to war
They were naturally wealthy
They could keep secrets well
They were quick to understand difficult ideas
They knew a lot about ethics and good behavior
They always spoke kindly to others
King Dasaratha, who was free from sin, ruled the earth with the help of these virtuous ministers. His reign was characterized by:
Just and vigilant rule:
He used spies to keep watch over his kingdom
He made his people happy by following dharma (righteousness)
He protected his subjects
He avoided unrighteous actions
Reputation and character:
He was famous in all three worlds (earth, sky, and heaven)
He was known for his generosity
He always kept his word
Unmatched power:
He had no enemies who were better or equal to him
He had many friends
All the smaller kings under him were obedient
He destroyed his enemies with his might
Comparison to divine rule:
He ruled the world like Indra (king of gods) ruled heaven
Support from ministers:
He was surrounded by ministers who were:
Devoted to his welfare
Skilled in giving advice
Capable and loyal
Radiant leadership:
With these ministers, the king shone brightly
He was compared to the rising sun with its brilliant rays
This concludes the seventh chapter (sarga) of Balakanda, the first book of the Ramayana, the great epic composed by the sage Valmiki.