In the nineteenth decade of Dasbodh, under the
section Rajkarannirupannaam, Samarth Ramdas describes the qualities of a
king or leader:
Wise and detached, with desire for community,
Through calm reflection, serve solitude. (1)
According to Samarth Ramdas, a king must be wise
(discerning) and detached (free from worldly greed). Even if he desires to
expand his community, he must first sit in solitude and reflect deeply.
Solitary contemplation reveals the true reality of time and circumstances, and
sustainable solutions emerge naturally.
Where planning is understood, constant scrutiny arises,
The condition and movement of all beings becomes clear.
(2)
A king must not be lazy. If he neglects political duties
and spends time in leisure or rest, governance will collapse and power will
slip away. Hence, a king should never indulge in idleness or excessive rest.
For example, it is said that Prime Minister Modi never takes a holiday.
Hold the main principles in hand,
Execution must be done through others,
Many obstacles will arise in politics. (18)
The king must take the main decisions himself, but
delegate their execution to others. Yet he must remain vigilant, constantly
overseeing their work. Wherever corruption or disorder appears, immediate and
strict action is necessary. Thus, Samarth says:
He who relies on others, his work is ruined.
He who labors himself, he alone prospers. (16)
If a person depends entirely on others to do his work,
the task will often fail or be neglected. Relying blindly on others means
losing control over the outcome. A king must monitor the work of his ministers
and other functionaries, and wherever required, he should take charge himself
to achieve the desired results.
Samarth also explains the importance and use of wicked
people. In the twenty-third verse he says:
Understand the wicked, but do not expose them.
Treat them like the virtuous, giving them importance.
(23)
In politics, even wicked people have their own
significance. They constantly create obstacles. Therefore, they should not be
completely ignored, but their nature should be used wisely. However, when the
right time comes, their thorn must be removed decisively.
When the wicked appear among the people,
There will be constant disturbance.
Therefore, that path must be quietly blocked. (24)
While removing those who harm the state, it must be done
secretly so that no suspicion falls upon the king. In serving the nation, the
king must build a large community, but ensure strong and harmonious
relationships within it. Not mere outward show, but mutual trust and unity are
essential. At the same time, the king must remain alert to the movements of
enemies, vigilant, and devoted to higher purpose- like a bird flying for
spiritual welfare.
Unity of society, vigilance of the king, and proper use
of the wicked—these are the three essential principles of politics.
A living example of Samarth Ramdas’s teachings is Prime
Minister Narendra Modi. He is wise and detached, yet tirelessly works for
national welfare. Holding the main principles himself, he takes decisions and
delegates execution to others. As a result, India has witnessed revolutions in
economy, infrastructure, digitalization, and the Swachh Bharat mission. On the
path of self-reliance, India has advanced in defence production. By cleverly
using adversaries, he integrates opponents into national interest. Through
solitary reflection, he frames long-term policies such as Atmanirbhar Bharat
and Vocal for Local. By taking firm action against terrorism, he has
shown India’s strength to the world.
Under his leadership, India is moving towards becoming a
global superpower. In line with Samarth’s teachings, he is detached yet
altruistic- free from worldly greed, but soaring independently for public
welfare. Such leadership ensures that the wisdom of Dasbodh does not
remain confined to scripture, but manifests in real life, securing the nation’s
progress.
