Shloka 15
राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः
Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures
ममेदमिति लोके5स्मिन् न भवेत् सम्परिग्रह: । नदारा न च पुत्र: स्यान्न धनं न परिग्रह: । विष्वग्लोप: प्रवर्तेत यदि राजा न पालयेत्,यदि राजा रक्षा न करे तो इस जगतमें स्त्री, पुत्र, धन अथवा घरबार कोई भी ऐसा संग्रह सम्भव नहीं हो सकता, जिसके लिये कोई कह सके कि यह मेरा है, सब ओर सबकी सारी सम्पत्तिका लोप हो जाय
mamedam iti loke 'smin na bhavet samparigrahaḥ | na dārā na ca putraḥ syān na dhanaṃ na parigrahaḥ | viśvag-lopaḥ pravarteta yadi rājā na pālayet |
Vasumanā said: “In this world, the sense of ‘this is mine’ could not endure as any settled possession. There would be no secure wife, no son, no wealth, no property at all. If the king did not protect and govern, universal plunder and loss would spread everywhere.”
वसुमना उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that stable social life—family security and the very possibility of lawful ownership—depends on the king’s protective governance; without it, disorder and widespread plunder prevail.
Vasumanā is explaining a principle of rājadharma in Śānti Parva: the ruler’s duty to protect is the foundation for peace, security, and legitimate possession in society.