Shloka 24
अध्याय ७२ — राजधर्मः: प्रजारक्षण, कर-नीति, दण्ड-नीति, अमात्य-नियोजन
Chapter 72 — Royal Duty: protection of subjects, taxation, punishment, and appointments
एवं धर्मेण वृत्तेन प्रजास्त्वं परिपालय । स्वन्तं पुण्यं यशो नित्यं प्राप्स्यसे कुरुनन्दन
evaṁ dharmeṇa vṛttena prajāstvam paripālaya | svantaṁ puṇyaṁ yaśo nityaṁ prāpsyase kurunandana ||
Bhishma said: “Rule and protect your subjects by conduct grounded in dharma. By doing so, O joy of the Kurus, you will attain your own auspicious merit and enduring fame.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s legitimacy and success rest on dharma-based personal conduct and active protection of the people; such governance yields both puṇya (moral/spiritual merit) and lasting yaśas (reputation).
In the Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on rājadharma after the war, urging him to govern by righteous conduct and to safeguard the welfare of his subjects, promising enduring merit and fame as the result.