Shloka 12
राज्ञो वृत्त-गुण-संग्रहः (Conduct and the Thirty-Six Virtues of a King) / The King’s Code of Conduct
एवं चरस्व राज्यस्थो यदि श्रेय इहेच्छसि । अतोडन्यथा नरपतिर्भयमृत्छत्यनुत्तमम्
evaṁ carasva rājyastho yadi śreya ihecchasi | ato ’nyathā narapatir bhayam ṛcchaty anuttamam, yudhiṣṭhira ||
قال بهيشما: «إن كنتَ تبغي الصلاح والرفاه في هذا العالم عينه، فاثبتْ في مُلكك والتزمْ هذا السلوك. فإن الملك الذي يسلك غير ذلك يقع في خوف لا يُضاهى وفي نازلة عظيمة، يا يودهيشثيرا!»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king seeking welfare must remain firmly established in his royal duty and follow the prescribed ethical conduct; deviation from rājadharma leads to severe fear and calamity.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on rājadharma after the war, warning him that a ruler who governs contrary to dharma invites grave danger.