Shloka 26
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
महान् वृक्षो जायते वर्धते च त॑ चैव भूतानि समाश्रयन्ति । यदा वक्षश्छिद्यते दहाते च तदाश्रया अनिकेता भवन्ति,जब कोई महान् वृक्ष पैदा होता और क्रमशः बढ़ता है, तब बहुत-से प्राणी (पक्षी) आकर उसपर बसेरे लेते हैं और जब उस वृक्षको काटा या जला दिया जाता है, तब उसपर रहनेवाले सभी जीव निराश्रय हो जाते हैं
mahān vṛkṣo jāyate vardhate ca taṃ caiva bhūtāni samāśrayanti | yadā vṛkṣaś chidyate dahyate ca tadāśrayā aniketā bhavanti ||
Utathya said: “When a great tree is born and steadily grows, many creatures come and take shelter in it. But when that tree is cut down or burned, all who depended on it become homeless. In the same way, when the support that sustains a community is destroyed, those who relied upon it are left without refuge.”
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A powerful support—like a great tree—creates refuge for many; destroying that support makes dependents shelterless. Ethically, one should protect sustaining institutions and caregivers (especially rulers and householders), mindful of the harm caused to those who rely on them.
Utathya illustrates his counsel with a vivid analogy: creatures gather in a flourishing tree for safety, but when it is cut or burned they lose their home. He uses this image to warn about the social fallout when a central protector or support is removed.