Shloka 48
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
न जात्वदक्षो नृपति: प्रजा: शक्नोति रक्षितुम् | भारो हि सुमहांस्तात राज्यं नाम सुदुष्करम्
na jātvadakṣo nṛpatiḥ prajāḥ śaknoti rakṣitum | bhāro hi sumahāṁs tāta rājyaṁ nāma suduṣkaram |
قال أوتاثيا: «يا بُنيّ، إنّ الملك الذي يفتقر إلى الكفاءة لا يستطيع قطّ أن يحمي رعيته حقًّا؛ لأنّ ما يُسمّى “المُلك” عملٌ بالغُ العُسر، وهو حِملٌ عظيمٌ جدًّا يُتَحَمَّل.»
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Kingship is not merely a title but a demanding moral and practical responsibility; without competence (dakṣatā), a ruler cannot protect the people, and thus fails in rajadharma.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance, the sage Utathya addresses a listener (tāta) and emphasizes that ruling is an arduous burden; only a capable king can safeguard the subjects.