Shloka 13
Vidurā–Putra Saṃvāda: Utsāha, Kīrti, and Kṣātra Resolve
Udyoga-parva 131
राजा चरति चेद् धर्म देवत्वायैव कल्पते । स चेदधर्म चरति नरकायैव गच्छति,यदि राजा धर्मका पालन करता है तो उसे देवत्वकी प्राप्ति होती है और यदि वह अधर्म करता है तो नरकमें ही पड़ता है
rājā carati ced dharmaṁ devatvāyaiva kalpate | sa ced adharmaṁ carati narakāyaiva gacchati |
Vāyu sprach: Wenn ein König gemäß dem Dharma handelt, wird er des göttlichen Standes würdig; handelt er aber nach Adharma, so geht er allein zur Hölle.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s destiny is determined by conduct: adherence to dharma makes him worthy of divine attainment, while adharma leads to hell. The verse emphasizes heightened moral accountability in kingship.
Vāyu is instructing about the ethical stakes of royal behavior, presenting a clear moral verdict on governance: righteous rule elevates, unrighteous rule condemns.