Shloka 6
लोकवृत्ताद् राजवृत्तमन्यदाह बृहस्पति: । तस्माद् राज्ञाप्रमत्तेन स्वार्थश्रिन्त्य: सदैव हि
lokavṛttād rājavṛttam anyad āha bṛhaspatiḥ | tasmād rājñāpramattena svārthaś cintyaḥ sadaiva hi ||
Duryodhana said: “Bṛhaspati has declared that the conduct proper to kingship is different from the conduct followed in ordinary society. Therefore a king must remain ever vigilant and continually reflect upon his own advantage.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts a separation between ordinary social morality (lokavṛtta) and the special code of kingship (rājavṛtta), urging the ruler to be constantly vigilant and to prioritize political self-interest as a principle of governance.
In the Sabha Parva context, Duryodhana articulates a hard-edged political stance, citing Bṛhaspati as an authority to justify a king’s distinct conduct and the need to focus on advantage and strategy rather than common social expectations.