Shloka 23
राजधर्मः, दण्डनीतिः, कर्तृत्व-विचारः च
Royal Duty, Lawful Discipline, and the Question of Agency
स्वधर्मे वर्तमानस्य सापवादे5पि भारत । एवमात्मपरित्यागस्तव राजन् न शोभन:
svadharme vartamānasya sāpavāde 'pi bhārata | evam ātmaparityāgas tava rājan na śobhanaḥ ||
ব্যাস বললেন— হে ভারত! নিজ ধর্মে প্রতিষ্ঠিত ব্যক্তির ক্ষেত্রে, সেই ধর্ম নিন্দিত হলেও, হে রাজা! এভাবে আত্ম-পরিত্যাগ তোমার পক্ষে শোভন নয়।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should remain steady in one’s own dharma; even if that duty attracts criticism, abandoning oneself (giving up one’s role or life out of despair) is ethically improper, especially for a king responsible for others.
Vyāsa addresses a Kuru king (called “Bhārata” and “rājan”), restraining him from a despair-driven impulse toward self-abandonment, and urges him to continue in his rightful duty despite possible reproach.