Shloka 73
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
कि तस्य तपसा राज्ञ: कि च तस्याध्वरैरपि । सुपालितप्रजो यः: स्यात् सर्वधर्मविदेव सः
kiṁ tasya tapasā rājñaḥ kiṁ ca tasyādhvarair api | supālitaprajo yaḥ syāt sarvadharmavideva saḥ ||
قال بيشما: «أيُّ حاجةٍ لذلك الملك إلى التقشّف، وأيُّ حاجةٍ حتى إلى شعائر القرابين، إذا كان قد حمى رعيّته وأحسنَ تدبيرهم؟ فمثلُ هذا الحاكم، بمجرد قيامه بالحراسة العادلة، يكون حقًّا عارفًا بجميع الدَّرْمات.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that a ruler’s highest religious merit lies in just protection and welfare of the people; when governance is righteous, external austerities and ritual sacrifices become secondary, because good rule itself embodies dharma.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira about the duties of kings. Here he emphasizes that the practical duty of safeguarding subjects outweighs displays of asceticism or ritual performance.