Shloka 5
राजधर्मः—प्रजापालनं दानयज्ञश्च
Royal Duty—Protection of Subjects, Generosity, and Sacrificial Discipline
नित्यमुद्यतदण्डश्न भवेन्मृत्युरिवारिषु । निहन्यात् सर्वतो दस्यून्ू न कामात् कस्यचित् क्षमेत्
bhīṣma uvāca | nityam udyatadaṇḍaś ca bhaven mṛtyur ivāriṣu | nihanyāt sarvato dasyūṃś ca na kāmāt kasyacit kṣamet |
Bhishma said: A king should always stand ready with punishment, becoming like Death itself toward enemies. He should hunt down and destroy robbers and bandits from every side, and he should not, out of personal desire or self-interest, pardon the wrongdoing of any wicked man.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that a ruler’s dharma includes firm, impartial enforcement of punishment: the king must be ever-ready to restrain enemies and eliminate banditry, and must not excuse wrongdoing out of personal desire or favoritism.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship (rājadharma), Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on statecraft: maintaining public order requires decisive action against criminals and consistent justice rather than indulgent pardons motivated by self-interest.