Shloka 58
राजा प्रगल्भं कुरुते मनुष्यं राजा कृशं वै कुरुते मनुष्यम् । राजाभिपन्नस्य कुत: सुखानि राजाभ्युपेतं॑ सुखिनं करोति,राजा मनुष्यको धृष्ट एवं सबल बनाता है और राजा ही उसे दुर्बल कर देता है। राजाके रोषका शिकार बने हुए मनुष्यको कैसे सुख मिल सकता है? राजा अपने शरणागतको सुखी बना देता है
rājā pragalbhaṃ kurute manuṣyaṃ rājā kṛśaṃ vai kurute manuṣyam | rājābhipannasya kutaḥ sukhāni rājābhyupetaṃ sukhinaṃ karoti ||
The king makes a man bold and strong; the king also makes a man weak and diminished. For one who has fallen under the king’s displeasure, how could there be any happiness? But the king makes happy the one who has come to him for protection.
वसुमना उवाच
Educational Q&A
Royal power profoundly affects a person’s strength and well-being; therefore a king must exercise restraint and uphold rajadharma—especially by protecting and benefiting those who seek his shelter—since his displeasure can destroy happiness while his protection can restore it.
Vasumanā states a general principle about governance: the king can elevate or ruin individuals. He contrasts the misery of one who incurs royal anger with the security of one who approaches the king for protection, emphasizing the ruler’s ethical responsibility toward subjects and supplicants.