Shloka 43
जिनका राजा धर्मको न जाननेवाला और नास्तिक होता है, वे लोग न तो सुखसे सोते हैं और न सुखसे जागते ही हैं; अपितु उस राजाके दुराचारसे सदैव उद्विग्न रहते है। ऐसे राजाके राज्यमें बहुधा योगक्षेम नहीं प्राप्त होते ।। अथ येषां पुनः प्राज्ञो राजा भवति धार्मिक: । सुखं ते प्रतिबुध्यन्ते सुसुखं प्रस्वपन्ति च,किंतु जिनका राजा बुद्धिमान् और धार्मिक होता है, वे सुखसे सोते और सुखसे जागते हैं
atha yeṣāṃ punaḥ prājño rājā bhavati dhārmikaḥ | sukhaṃ te pratibudhyante susukhaṃ prasvapanti ca ||
Bhīṣma said: “Thus, where the king does not know dharma and denies right belief, the people neither sleep in happiness nor wake in happiness; rather, by that king’s misconduct they remain ever anxious. In such a ruler’s realm, yogakṣema—security and welfare—is often not attained. But where the king is wise and devoted to dharma, the people sleep in ease and awaken in ease.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s character directly shapes public well-being: when the king is wise and dharmic, society gains security and mental peace, symbolized by people sleeping and waking happily.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma and royal conduct, he contrasts the misery caused by an unrighteous ruler with the calm prosperity found under a prudent, righteous king.