Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 52: Rāma Crosses the Gaṅgā on Guha’s Boat
Text 2.52.25
एतदर्थं हि राज्यानि प्रशासति नरेश्वराः।
यदेषां सर्वकृत्येषु मनो न प्रतिहन्यते॥
etad-arthaṁ hi rājyāni praśāsati nareśvarāḥ
yad eṣāṁ sarva-kṛtyeṣu mano na pratihanyate
etat-artham = this is their purpose; hi = indeed; rājyāni = over their kingdoms; praśāsati = rule; nara-īśvarāḥ = kings; yat = in such a way that; eṣām = their; sarva-kṛtyeṣu = in any of their endeavors; manaḥ = minds’ desires; na = not; pratihanyate = are obstructed.
Kings rule over their kingdoms in such a way that their minds’ desires are not obstructed in any of their endeavors. This is indeed their purpose [in ruling].