Shloka 4
Gaṇānāṃ Vṛttiḥ — On the Sustenance and Cohesion of Assemblies
Gaṇa-nīti
समहीनाधिकानां च यथावल्लक्षणं च यत् । मध्यमस्य च तुष्ट्यर्थ यथा स्थेयं विवर्धता
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | samahīnādhi-kānāṃ ca yathāval lakṣaṇaṃ ca yat | madhyamasya ca tuṣṭyarthaṃ yathā stheyaṃ vivardhatā ||
Yudhiṣṭhira sprach: „Erkläre, wie es in Wahrheit ist, die unterscheidenden Merkmale derer, die gleich sind, derer, die geringer sind, und derer, die höher stehen; und sage, wie ein König, der stetig voranschreitet, sich verhalten soll, um die mittleren Stände zufrieden zu halten.“
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must discern people by their true characteristics—recognizing equals, inferiors, and superiors—and govern with steady, growth-oriented conduct that maintains the contentment of the middle ranks, a key pillar of social stability in rājadharma.
In the Śānti Parva dialogue on kingship and dharma, Yudhiṣṭhira continues his inquiry, asking for practical criteria to judge different social standings and for guidance on how an advancing king should behave to keep the ‘middle’ segment of society satisfied.