Shloka 2
Vāmadeva’s Counsel on Rooted Kingship and Non-violent Victory (वामदेवोपदेशः—दृढमूलराजधर्मः)
न चाप्यलब्धं लिप्सेत मूले नातिदृढे सति | न हि दुर्बलमूलस्य राज्ञो लाभो विधीयते
na cāpy alabdhaṃ lipseta mūle nātidṛḍhe sati | na hi durbalamūlasya rājño lābho vidhīyate ||
Vāmadeva lehrt, dass ein König nicht nach dem verlangen soll, was er noch nicht gesichert hat—etwa nach neuen Gebieten—solange das Fundament seiner Herrschaft nicht fest gegründet ist. Denn einem Herrscher mit schwacher Basis können die erhofften Gewinne nicht wahrhaft zuteilwerden.
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should first strengthen the kingdom’s foundations—administration, resources, alliances, internal stability—before desiring further acquisitions. Without a firm base, ambitions for expansion will not yield real success.
In the Śānti Parva’s rājadharma instruction, the sage Vāmadeva addresses a king with counsel on governance, warning against pursuing new gains when the state’s root strength is inadequate.