Shloka 28
Cāturāśramya-dharma—Marks of the Four Āśramas (चातुराश्रम्यधर्मः)
सर्वलोकगुरुं चैव राजानं यो5वमन्यते । न तस्य दत्तं न हुतं न श्राद्धं फलते क्वचित्,जो मनुष्य सम्पूर्ण लोकोंके गुरुस्वरूप राजाका अपमान करता है, उसके किये दान, होम और श्राद्ध कभी सफल नहीं होते हैं
sarvalokaguruṁ caiva rājānaṁ yo ’vamanyate | na tasya dattaṁ na hutaṁ na śrāddhaṁ phalate kvacit ||
Indra said: Whoever shows contempt for the king—who stands as the teacher and guardian of all people—finds that none of his religious acts bear fruit: not his gifts in charity, not his sacrificial offerings, and not even the rites performed for the ancestors.
इन्द्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that contempt for the rightful king—seen as the societal guru and protector—destroys the efficacy of one’s religious merits. Charity (dāna), fire-offerings (homa), and ancestral rites (śrāddha) depend on alignment with dharma and the maintenance of social order; undermining that order through disrespect makes such acts fruitless.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Indra speaks as an authoritative voice on rājadharma. He warns that dishonoring the king has spiritual consequences: even outwardly pious acts fail to yield results when performed by one who rejects the ethical foundation of respect for lawful rule.