Shloka 39
विवर्धयति मित्राणि तथारींश्षापि कर्षति । सम्पूजयति साधूंभश्व॒ स राज्ञो धर्म उच्यते,वह जो मित्रोंकी वृद्धि, शत्रुओंका नाश और साधु पुरुषोंका समादर करता है, उसे राजाका धर्म कहते हैं
vivardhayati mitrāṇi tathārīn api karṣati | sampūjayati sādhūṁś ca sa rājño dharma ucyate ||
Utathya said: That is called the king’s dharma—by it he strengthens his friends and allies, subdues and diminishes his enemies, and duly honors the virtuous; thus he sustains order through loyalty, protection, and reverence for the good.
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s dharma is defined as threefold governance: nurturing and empowering friends/allies, restraining and reducing hostile forces, and honoring virtuous people—so that moral order and social stability are upheld.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on royal conduct, the sage Utatthya states a concise criterion for righteous kingship, describing how a ruler should relate to allies, enemies, and the virtuous as part of rajadharma.