Shloka 15
अध्याय ९ — धृतराष्ट्रस्य युधिष्ठिरं प्रति राजनित्युपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel on Royal Policy to Yudhiṣṭhira
न जात्वस्य च वंशस्य राज्ञां कश्चित् कदाचन । राजा55सीद् यः प्रजापाल: प्रजानामप्रियो5भवत्,“इस राजवंशमें कभी कोई भी ऐसा राजा नहीं हुआ, जो प्रजापालन करते समय समस्त प्रजाओंको प्रिय न रहा हो
na jātvasya ca vaṃśasya rājñāṃ kaścit kadācana | rājāsīd yaḥ prajā-pālaḥ prajānām apriyo 'bhavat ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „In diesem königlichen Geschlecht gab es niemals—zu keiner Zeit—einen König, der, während er das Volk schützte und regierte, bei seinen Untertanen in Ungnade fiel.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ethical ideal of rulership: a king who truly protects and nurtures his subjects (prajā-pālana) should not become hateful to them. Legitimate authority is grounded in welfare, justice, and care, which naturally generate public affection and trust.
Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, praises the character of a particular dynasty by asserting that no king in that lineage ever became unpopular while performing the duty of protecting the people—highlighting the dynasty’s reputation for righteous governance.