Shloka 28
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
यत्र पापा ज्ञायमानाक्षरन्ति सतां कलिववंन्दते तत्र राज्ञ: । यदा राजा शास्ति नरानशिष्टां- स्तदा राज्यं वर्धते भूमिपस्य
utathya uvāca |
yatra pāpā jñāyamānāś caranti satāṁ kali-varṇaṁ dṛśyate tatra rājñaḥ |
yadā rājā śāsti narān aśiṣṭāṁs tadā rājyaṁ vardhate bhūmipasya ||
قال أوتاثيا: «حيثما كان الأشرار—مع أنهم معروفون بوضوح—يمشون علنًا بلا خوف، أدرك الصالحون أن ملك ذلك الموضع قد أحاطت به روح كالي (انحطاط الأخلاق). ولكن إذا أدّب الملك العصاة والأشرار وعاقبهم، فإن مملكة سيد الأرض تنمو وتزدهر من كل جانب.»
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s legitimacy and the health of his realm are measured by the protection of dharma: if known wrongdoers act fearlessly, it signals moral collapse (Kali’s ascendancy) and failure of governance; firm, just discipline of the unruly enables the kingdom to flourish.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, the sage Utathya advises about signs of good and bad rule: unchecked public wrongdoing indicates the king is overpowered by Kali, whereas active punishment of the wicked leads to the growth and stability of the state.