Shloka 11
Vāmadeva’s Rājadharma: Norm-Setting, Counsel, and the Prevention of Rāṣṭra-Vināśa (वामदेव-प्रोक्तं राजधर्मम्)
प्रिये नातिभृशं हृष्येदप्रिये न च संज्वरेत् । न तप्येदर्थकृच्छेषु प्रजाहितमनुस्मरन्
priye nātibhṛśaṁ hṛṣyed apriye na ca saṁjvaret | na tapyed arthakṛcchreṣu prajāhitam anusmaran ||
Vāmadeva said: When something pleasing occurs, one should not exult excessively; when something displeasing occurs, one should not burn with anxiety. Even when financial hardship arises, one should not be distressed, keeping in mind the welfare of the people.
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Maintain steadiness: do not become overly elated by favorable events or overly distressed by unfavorable ones; especially for a ruler, remember that personal emotions must not override the duty of safeguarding the people’s welfare.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, the sage Vāmadeva advises the listener (in the broader frame, guidance given to a king) on emotional discipline and the primacy of prajā-hita—public good—even amid economic संकट (arthakṛcchra).