Shloka 7
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
संस्थानेषु च सर्वेषु पुरेषु नगरेषु च । मध्ये च नरशार्दूल तथा राजनिवेशने
saṁsthāneṣu ca sarveṣu pureṣu nagareṣu ca | madhye ca naraśārdūla tathā rājaniveśane ||
Bhishma said: “In all encampments and stations, in towns and cities, and likewise within the inner quarters and around the royal residence, O tiger among men, guards should be duly posted.” The counsel emphasizes vigilant governance: public safety must be secured everywhere—from the outer settlements to the palace itself—so that order and dharma are protected through disciplined administration.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must ensure comprehensive security—posting vigilant guards in every kind of settlement and especially in sensitive zones like the palace—so that social order and dharma are maintained.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises the king on practical governance, specifically the systematic deployment of protective forces across the realm and within the royal establishment.