Shloka 14
राजधर्मः—प्रजापालनं दानयज्ञश्च
Royal Duty—Protection of Subjects, Generosity, and Sacrificial Discipline
न हि कामात्मना राज्ञा सततं कामबुद्धिना । नृशंसेनातिलुब्धेन शक््यं पालयितुं प्रजा:,जो राजा कामासक्त हो सदा कामका ही चिन्तन करनेवाला, क्रूर और अत्यन्त लोभी होता है, वह प्रजाका पालन नहीं कर सकता
na hi kāmātmanā rājñā satataṃ kāmabuddhinā | nṛśaṃsenātilubdhena śakyaṃ pālayituṃ prajāḥ ||
Bhishma said: “A king who is ruled by desire—ever thinking in terms of personal gratification, cruel in disposition, and excessively greedy—cannot truly protect and sustain his subjects.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must master desire and greed; otherwise he becomes cruel and self-serving, and such inner vices make just protection of the people impossible. Effective kingship depends on self-restraint and dharmic intention, not on constant pursuit of pleasure.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma advises the king on the qualities required for righteous rule. Here he warns that a desire-driven, cruel, and overly greedy king cannot properly maintain and protect his subjects.