Shloka 6
अध्याय ७२ — राजधर्मः: प्रजारक्षण, कर-नीति, दण्ड-नीति, अमात्य-नियोजन
Chapter 72 — Royal Duty: protection of subjects, taxation, punishment, and appointments
आर्जवेन च सम्पन्नो धृत्या बुद्धया च भारत । यथार्थ प्रतिगृह्लीयात् कामक्रोधौ च वर्जयेत्
ārjavena ca sampanno dhṛtyā buddhyā ca bhārata | yathārthaṃ pratigṛhṇīyāt kāmakrodhau ca varjayet, bharatanandana ||
Bhīṣma said: “O Bhārata, a king should be endowed with straightforwardness; supported by steadiness and sound judgment he should accept only what is true and real, and he should renounce lust and anger, O delight of the Bharatas.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should cultivate straightforwardness and, guided by fortitude and discernment, adhere to truth while renouncing the destabilizing impulses of desire and anger.
In the Śānti Parva dialogue on kingship and dharma, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on the inner virtues required of a king—especially truthful judgment and mastery over kāma and krodha.