Dasaratha’s cabinet, an inspiration

Mar 24, 2010, 12.00am IST
SUDHAMAHI REGUNATHAN.


The secret of professional success, according to the Valmiki Ramayana, lies in teamwork. In the city of Ayodhya, which was tranquil and peaceful, it is said everyone was truthful and law-abiding.
This is directly attributed to the excellent administration of the righteous king, Dasaratha. This gave him courage and power, enabling him to lead his eight virtuous and efficient ministers. With the help of such a proficient and wise cabinet the king could provide governance par excellence.


What was the profile of his ministers? Valmiki recounts the attributes of Dasaratha’s ministers and says that these men were vidyavinita. That means they were not only learned but also full of a humility that comes from learning. He implies that they were people who internalised what they learnt and applied it to everyday life. They were humble not as ministers of Dasaratha, but by virtue of their erudition. So the first qualification is to select the person who is qualified enough, which means possessing adequate knowledge to carry out the job assigned to him. Such a person will be secure in his learning and so will not need to resort to arrogance or bullying to get by.


Further, the ministers were of imperturbable nature. Again this meant that they were confident and so could keep cool in a crisis; they would act rather than react. When viewed in the context of a powerful job where people may say good and bad things, where time may be in short supply and so irritation may mount, where the feeling that one knows everything may be fostered, Dasaratha’s ministers remained unaffected. So the second qualification is to keep an open mind and listen to everyone and everything without taking it personally. This also means they carried their power lightly. So choose one who is able to make a difference between self and job.


Valmiki offers a word of caution lest it appears that he is suggesting a lack of involvement in the job. The third epithet he uses is kushalaha which is to say, they were very efficient. We do not only need good and qualified men in power but also efficient ones who are able to deliver.


It is probably not so difficult to find a qualified and efficient team mate as it is to ensure integrity. Here, Valmiki uses the word: niyateindriyaha or ones who had complete control over their senses. This control helped them retain equanimity at all times. They would never utter a lie either out of lust and greed or anger. They were always true to their word and were willing and quick to forgive.

To exercise some control one’s senses, one must be either a renunciate or a fully satisfied person. They perhaps belonged to the second category because Valmiki describes them as majestic which implies they were ornamented and well clad. So even though they were of the world, they were also discriminate and wise in their behaviour. The leader kept them well and in comfort, both materially and morally. Hence the team was free of disgruntlement.


Finally, Valmiki dwells on the one virtue which he has extolled all through the narration of f his Ramayana: Sweet speech. Choose a person who is good natured, suggests Vamiki as the ministers always spoke with a smile on their lips and only with purpose. Their words were sweet and righteous, well meant and well intentioned rather than mere lip service.