Shloka 32
Kośārtha-Rājadharma: Ethical Revenue Collection and Social Regulation (कोशार्थ-राजधर्मः)
विद्वान, शूरवीर, धनी, धर्मनिष्ठ, स्वामी, तपस्वी, सत्यवादी तथा बुद्धिमान् मनुष्य ही प्रजाकी रक्षा करते हैं ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | vidvān śūravīra dhanī dharmaniṣṭhaḥ svāmī tapasvī satyavādī tathā buddhimān manuṣya eva prajā-rakṣāṃ kurvanti || tasmāt sarveṣu bhūteṣu prītimān bhava pārthiva | satyam ārjavam akrodham ānṛśaṃsyaṃ ca pālaya ||
Bhishma said: It is the truly capable—learned, heroic, prosperous, steadfast in dharma, masterful, ascetic in discipline, truthful, and intelligent—who protect the people. Therefore, O king, cultivate goodwill toward all beings. Uphold truth, straightforwardness, freedom from anger, and compassion; by these virtues, O protector of the earth, you sustain righteous rule and the welfare of your subjects.
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should protect the people through inner virtues: goodwill toward all beings, truthfulness, straightforward integrity, freedom from anger, and compassion. These qualities are presented as the ethical foundation of effective and righteous governance (rājadharma).
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma addresses the king (contextually Yudhishthira) and explains what kinds of persons truly safeguard the realm, then directly exhorts the ruler to cultivate universal benevolence and to uphold key moral disciplines.