Shloka 3.6.11
षष्ठस्सर्गः — तपस्विरक्षणे राजधर्मोपदेशः (Sarga 6: The Sages’ Appeal and Instruction on Royal Duty)
अधर्मस्सुमहांस्तात भवेत्तस्य महीपतेः।यो हरेद्बलिषड्भागां न च रक्षति पुत्रवत्।।।।
adharmaḥ sumahāṃs tāta bhavet tasya mahīpateḥ |
yo hared baliṣaḍbhāgāṃ na ca rakṣati putravat ||
O dear lord, a king commits a very great wrong if he takes the sixth share of revenue yet does not protect his subjects as a father protects his children.
O Lord, a king who collect one sixth of the produce as tax and yet does not protect his subjects like his children commits an act of grave injustice.
Rāja-dharma is defined as a moral contract: taxation is legitimate only when paired with protection; extracting wealth without safeguarding people is adharma.
Sages explain to Rāma the ethical basis for seeking royal protection against rākṣasa violence in the forest.
Justice and responsibility in kingship—protection must match authority and revenue.