Shloka 7
Book 12, Chapter 93 — Vāmadeva’s Counsel to King Vasumanā on Dharmic Kingship (धर्मप्रधान-राजधर्मोपदेशः)
अर्थसिद्धि: पर धर्म मन््यते यो महीपति: । वृद्धयां च कुरुते बुद्धिं स धर्मेण विराजते,जो भूपाल धर्मको अर्थ-सिद्धिकी अपेक्षा भी बड़ा मानता है और उसीको बढ़ानेमें अपने मन और बुद्धिका उपयोग करता है, वह धर्मके कारण बड़ी शोभा पाता है
arthasiddhiḥ paraṃ dharmaṃ manyate yo mahīpatiḥ | vṛddhyāṃ ca kurute buddhiṃ sa dharmeṇa virājate ||
বামদেব বললেন—“যে নৃপতি অর্থসিদ্ধির চেয়েও ধর্মকে শ্রেষ্ঠ মনে করে এবং ধর্মবৃদ্ধিতেই মন ও বুদ্ধি নিয়োজিত রাখে, সে ধর্মের বলেই সত্য দীপ্তিতে বিভূষিত হয়।”
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should treat material success (artha-siddhi) as subordinate to dharma and actively use judgment to expand righteousness; such a ruler gains genuine glory through dharma, not merely through wealth or power.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous rule and conduct, Vāmadeva articulates a standard for kingship: the ideal king prioritizes dharma and cultivates policies and decisions that increase it, thereby becoming truly illustrious.