Shloka 19
Kāpavya-carita (कापव्यचरित) — Reforming Dasyus through Regulated Rāja-Dharma
सर्वतः सत्कृत: सद्धिर्भूतिप्रवरकारणै: । हृदयेना भ्यनुज्ञातो यो धर्मस्तं व्यवस्यति,ऐश्वर्यकी प्राप्तिके जो प्रधान कारण हैं, ऐसे श्रेष्ठ पुरुष जिसका सब प्रकारसे सत्कार करते हैं तथा हृदयसे भी जिसका अनुमोदन होता है, राजा उसी धर्मका अनुष्ठान करे
sarvataḥ satkṛtaḥ sadbhir bhūtipravarakāraṇaiḥ | hṛdayenābhyanujñāto yo dharmas taṃ vyavasyati ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „Der König soll sich fest entschließen, jenes Dharma zu üben, das von den Tugendhaften in jeder Hinsicht geehrt wird—von denen, die die vornehmsten Ursachen des Gedeihens sind—und das auch das eigene Herz billigt.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should adopt and practice the dharma that is (1) publicly honored by the virtuous—those who truly promote welfare—and (2) inwardly affirmed by the heart. Ethical governance rests on both wise social validation and sincere inner assent.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on how a king should choose a righteous course: by aligning with the standards of the good and with the approval of conscience.