Shloka 35
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
पापमाचरतो यत्र कर्मणा व्याहृतेन वा | प्रियस्यापि न मृष्येत स राज्ञो धर्म उच्यते
pāpam ācarato yatra karmaṇā vyāhṛtena vā | priyasyāpi na mṛṣyeta sa rājño dharma ucyate ||
حيثما ارتكب امرؤٌ إثماً—فعلاً كان أو قولاً—فلا ينبغي للملك أن يتغاضى عنه، ولو كان الجاني عزيزاً عليه. إن هذا الامتناع العادل عن تبرير الخطيئة هو دارما الملك.
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s dharma is impartial justice: wrongdoing must not be excused due to personal affection. Whether the offense is by deed or by speech, the ruler should not tolerate it and should apply appropriate correction/punishment.
Utathya is instructing on rāja-dharma (the duties of kingship), emphasizing that governance must rise above favoritism. The verse frames even a beloved person as accountable under the same standard of law and ethics.