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 ||
Vāmadeva sprach: Jener König, der die Erlangung von Wohlstand dem Dharma nachordnet und Geist wie Urteilskraft auf die Mehrung des Dharma richtet, erstrahlt in wahrer Pracht — durch die Rechtschaffenheit selbst.
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.