Shloka 13
राजा चरति चेद् धर्म देवत्वायैव कल्पते । स चेदधर्म चरति नरकायैव गच्छति,यदि राजा धर्मका पालन करता है तो उसे देवत्वकी प्राप्ति होती है और यदि वह अधर्म करता है तो नरकमें ही पड़ता है
rājā carati ced dharmaṁ devatvāyaiva kalpate | sa ced adharmaṁ carati narakāyaiva gacchati |
Vāyu said: If a king conducts himself in accordance with dharma, he becomes fit for divine status; but if he practices adharma, he goes only to hell.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s destiny is determined by conduct: adherence to dharma makes him worthy of divine attainment, while adharma leads to hell. The verse emphasizes heightened moral accountability in kingship.
Vāyu is instructing about the ethical stakes of royal behavior, presenting a clear moral verdict on governance: righteous rule elevates, unrighteous rule condemns.