Panchatantra · Sanskrit Story

A Wise and Compassionate Queen

धर्मशीला राज्ञी

Vrindavanlal Verma — झाँसी की रानी; T.A. Martin, The Rani of Jhansi (1857) · Intermediate Sanskrit

Moral · नीतिः

प्रजासुखे राज्ञः सुखम्।

Prajāsukhe rājñaḥ sukham.

The happiness of the ruler lies in the happiness of the people.

Justice in the Court

लक्ष्मीबाई प्रतिदिनं राजसभायां उपविशति स्म। जनाः तस्याः समक्षे स्वविवादान् उपस्थापयन्ति स्म। एकदा द्वौ कृषकौ भूमिविवादे आगतौ। राज्ञी धैर्येण उभयोः वार्तां श्रुत्वा न्यायेन निर्णयम् अकरोत्। "न्यायः सर्वेषाम् अधिकारः" — इति तस्याः नीतिः।

Lakshmibai would sit in the royal court every day. People would present their disputes before her. Once two farmers came with a land dispute. The queen, patiently hearing both sides, gave a fair judgment. "Justice is the right of all" — this was her principle.

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