एवं ते वर्तमानस्य सम्यग्दण्डधरस्य च | प्रजापालनदक्षस्य स्वर्गलोको भविष्यति,ऐसा बर्ताव करते हुए यदि तुम न्यायोचित रीतिसे दण्ड धारण करके प्रजापालनमें कुशलतापूर्वक लगे रहोगे तो तुम्हें स्वर्गलोक प्राप्त होगा
evaṁ te vartamānasya samyag daṇḍadharasya ca | prajā-pālana-dakṣasya svargaloko bhaviṣyati ||
Bhishma said: “If you conduct yourself in this manner—upholding punishment and governance in a truly just way, and remaining skillful in protecting and maintaining your subjects—then the world of heaven will be your destined attainment. The ethical point is that a ruler’s merit arises not from power itself, but from disciplined, fair enforcement of law and competent care of the people.”
भीष्म उवाच
A ruler earns spiritual merit by administering punishment justly (daṇḍa) and by competently protecting and sustaining the people; ethical governance itself becomes a path to higher worlds.
Bhishma, instructing the king on rajadharma, concludes that if the listener continues to act in this prescribed way—fair in discipline and effective in public welfare—he will attain svargaloka.