Shloka 31
Chapter 78: Royal Responsibility for Wealth, Social Order, and the Protection of Dvijas
Kekaya Exemplum
येषां पुरोगमा विप्रा येषां ब्रह्म परं बलम् । अतिथिप्रियास्तथा पौरास्ते वै स्वर्गजितो नूपा:
yeṣāṃ purogamā viprā yeṣāṃ brahma paraṃ balam | atithipriyās tathā paurās te vai svargajito nṛpāḥ ||
যাদের অগ্রে ব্রাহ্মণেরা সম্মানে চলেন, যাদের সর্বোচ্চ শক্তি ব্রহ্ম-তেজ, এবং যাদের নগরবাসীরা অতিথি-সেবায় অনুরাগী— সেই রাজারা নিঃসন্দেহে স্বর্গলোক জয় করেন।
राक्षस उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s lasting merit is grounded in dharma: honoring learned brāhmaṇas (as custodians of sacred knowledge) and fostering a culture of atithi-satkara (hospitality). Such social and religious ethics are presented as a direct cause of heavenly attainment.
A rākṣasa speaks a didactic verse praising the qualities of righteous kingship: brāhmaṇas are given precedence and respect, spiritual authority is treated as the kingdom’s true strength, and citizens are characterized by love of welcoming guests—together marking a polity that earns svarga.