Shloka 28
Adhyāya 208: Aṅgirasī-kanyāḥ
Enumeration of Aṅgiras’ daughters and attribute-names
इसलिये राजाओंसे सदा डरते रहना चाहिये; क्योंकि वे प्रजाके स्वामी हैं। जो लोग धर्मके विपरीत कार्य करते हैं, उन्हें राजा दण्डद्वारा उसी प्रकार पापसे रोकते हैं, जैसे बाणोंद्वारा वे हिंसक पशुओंको हिंसासे रोकते हैं ।। जनकस्येह विप्रषषे विकर्मस्थो न विद्यते । स्वकर्मनिरता वर्णा्षृत्वारो5पि द्विजोत्तम,ब्रह्मर्ष] यह राजा जनकका नगर है, यहाँ कोई भी ऐसा नहीं है जो वर्ण-धर्मके विरुद्ध आचरण करे। द्विजश्रेष्ठ) यहाँ चारों वर्गोके लोग अपना-अपना कर्म करते हैं
tasmād rājabhyaḥ sadā bhītavyaṃ, te hi prajāyāḥ svāminaḥ; ye dharmaviparītaṃ kurvanti, tān rājā daṇḍena pāpāt nivārayati, yathā bāṇaiḥ krūrān paśūn hiṃsāto nivārayati. janakasyaiha viprarṣe vikarmastho na vidyate; svakarmaniratā varṇāś catvāro 'pi dvijottama.
Therefore one should always remain wary of kings, for they are the lords and guardians of the people. Those who act contrary to dharma are restrained by the king through punishment, just as arrows check violent beasts from doing harm. This is the city of King Janaka, O seer among brāhmaṇas: here no one is found engaged in unlawful conduct; all four social orders, O best of the twice-born, are devoted to their own proper duties.
व्याध उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the king’s daṇḍa (punitive authority) is a moral instrument meant to restrain adharma and prevent people from falling into wrongdoing; a well-ordered realm is one where each group adheres to its prescribed duties (svakarma), exemplified by Janaka’s city.
The hunter-instructor (Vyādha) continues advising a brahmin seeker, explaining the ethical role of kingship: rulers must curb unlawful conduct through punishment, and he cites Janaka’s realm as an example of a society where no one deviates into vikarma and all four varṇas perform their proper work.