Shloka 10
Gārhasthya-Śreṣṭhatā and Kṣatriya-Daṇḍadhāraṇa
Householder Primacy and the Royal Duty of Punishment
यज्ञो विद्या समुत्थानमसंतोष: श्रयं प्रति । दण्डधारणमुग्रत्वं प्रजानां परिपालनम्,प्रजानाथ! अब मैं पुनः क्षत्रियोंके धर्म बता रहा हूँ, यद्यपि वह तुम्हें भी ज्ञात है। यज्ञ, विद्याभ्यास, शत्रुओंपर चढ़ाई करना, राजलक्ष्मीकी प्राप्तिसे कभी संतुष्ट न होना, दुष्टोंको दण्ड देनेके लिये उद्यत रहना, क्षत्रियतेजसे सम्पन्न रहना, प्रजाकी सब ओरसे रक्षा करना, समस्त वेदोंका ज्ञान प्राप्त करना, तप, सदाचार, अधिक द्रव्योपार्जन और सत्पात्रको दान देना--ये सब राजाओंके कर्म हैं, जो सुन्दर ढंगसे किये जानेपर उनके इहलोक और परलोक दोनोंको सफल बनाते हैं, ऐसा हमने सुना है
yajño vidyā samutthānam asantoṣaḥ śriyaṃ prati | daṇḍadhāraṇam ugrātvaṃ prajānāṃ paripālanam ||
Vyāsa said: “Sacrifice, the pursuit of learning, energetic enterprise (including marching against enemies), never becoming complacent with royal fortune, readiness to wield punishment, stern valor, and the protection of the people—these are the defining duties of kings. When performed well, they secure a ruler’s welfare in both this world and the next.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma is a balanced discipline: religious responsibility (yajña), education (vidyā), energetic initiative (samutthāna), vigilance against complacency in power (asantoṣa toward śrī), firm law-enforcement (daṇḍadhāraṇa), and above all the protection and welfare of the people (prajā-paripālana).
In the Shānti Parva’s instruction on governance, Vyāsa enumerates key royal duties, outlining the qualities and actions expected of kṣatriya rulers as part of rajadharma.