Shloka 13
Bṛhaspati’s Counsel on Contentment
Santoṣa), Restraint, and Adroha (Non-injury
तस्मादेतत् प्रयत्नेन कौन्तेय प्रतिपालय । यो हि राज्ये स्थित: शश्वद् वशी तुल्यप्रियाप्रिय:
tasmādetat prayatnena kaunteya pratipālaya | yo hi rājye sthitaḥ śaśvad vaśī tulyapriyāpriyaḥ ||
Darum, o Sohn der Kuntī, hüte und wahre dies mit ernsthaftem Bemühen. Denn wer im Königtum steht, soll stets selbstbeherrscht sein und gegenüber Angenehmem wie Unangenehmem Gleichmut bewahren—und so das Reich durch disziplinierte Unparteilichkeit schützen.
देवस्थान उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must consciously uphold dharma through steady self-mastery: remaining impartial toward pleasure and displeasure prevents favoritism, anger, and rash punishment, thereby safeguarding the kingdom.
Devastāna addresses Kaunteya with a direct injunction: to preserve the stated principle by effort, emphasizing that one established in royal power should be continually self-controlled and even-minded in the face of agreeable and disagreeable circumstances.