Shloka 17
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत शान्तिपर्वके अन्तर्गत राजधर्मानुशासनपर्वमें युधिष्ठिरका वाक्यविषयक सत्रहवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ,निपानं सर्वभूतानां भूत्वा त्वं पावनं महत् | आद्यो वनस्पतिर्भूत्वा सो<न्यांस्त्वं पर्युपाससे
nipānaṁ sarvabhūtānāṁ bhūtvā tvaṁ pāvanaṁ mahat | ādyo vanaspatir bhūtvā so ’nyāṁs tvaṁ paryupāsase ||
«إذ صرتَ موردَ ماءٍ لجميع الكائنات، فأنت مُطهِّرٌ عظيم. وإذ صرتَ أسبقَ الأشجار، فأنت قائمٌ على خدمة الآخرين وإسنادهم.» إنما هو ثناءٌ على مثالٍ يُقيم الدَّرما بإعالة الحياة بلا محاباة—كموردٍ عامٍّ يَرِدُه الجميع، وكشجرةٍ كبرى تظلّل وتغذّي سواها—فيجعل المُلك والقيادة خدمةً وحمايةً وتطهيرًا للجماعة.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
True leadership (rājadharma) is measured by how one sustains and purifies society: like a common watering-place open to all beings, and like a foremost tree that shelters and supports others. The ethical ideal is impartial beneficence, protection, and service rather than self-interest.
Within the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Yudhiṣṭhira’s speech employs metaphors of a watering-place and a great tree to praise (or characterize) an exemplary supporter of others, reinforcing the expectation that a ruler or noble person exists for the welfare of all beings.