Shloka 19
धृतराष्ट्र-सेवा, राज्य-कार्य-विभागः
Service to Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Allocation of State Duties
पौरजानपदानां च यानि कार्याणि सर्वश: । राजानं समनुज्ञाप्य तानि कर्माणि भागश:,“पुरवासियों और जनपदनिवासियोंके भी जो-जो कार्य हों, उन्हें इन्हीं महाराजकी आज्ञा लेकर पृथक्-पृथक् पूर्ण करना चाहिये'
paurajānāpadānāṃ ca yāni kāryāṇi sarvaśaḥ | rājānaṃ samanujñāpya tāni karmāṇi bhāgaśaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Whatever tasks arise in every way for the townspeople and for those living throughout the countryside, one should first obtain the king’s authorization and then carry out those duties separately, each in its proper share and order.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Public and provincial affairs should be conducted under lawful royal authorization and executed with proper division of responsibility, emphasizing orderly governance and accountability (rājadharma).
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance, Vaiśampāyana narrates a rule of administration: civic and rural matters are to be undertaken only after seeking the king’s sanction, and then completed in an appropriately allocated manner.