Shloka 19
स्वेषु धर्मेष्ववस्थाप्य प्रजा: सर्वा महीपति: । धर्मेण सर्वकृत्यानि शमनिष्ठानि कारयेत्,राजा समस्त प्रजाओंको अपने-अपने धर्मोमें स्थापित करके उनके द्वारा शान्तिपूर्ण समस्त कर्मोंका धर्मके अनुसार अनुष्ठान करावे
sveṣu dharmeṣv avasthāpya prajāḥ sarvā mahīpatiḥ | dharmeṇa sarvakṛtyāni śamanīṣṭhāni kārayet ||
Dijo Bhishma: Tras asentar a todos sus súbditos con firmeza en sus deberes propios, el rey debe, conforme al dharma, hacer que toda empresa necesaria se lleve a cabo con espíritu de paz y contención, para que la vida pública avance mediante acciones lícitas, apaciguadoras y orientadas al bien común, y no por coerción o desorden.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s primary ethical duty is to anchor society in each group’s rightful responsibilities (svadharma) and to administer all state actions through dharma, aiming at śamana—peace, restraint, and the calming of conflict—rather than arbitrary force.
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs the king on rajadharma (the duties of rulership). Here he emphasizes orderly governance: the king should ensure subjects follow their proper duties and should direct all public affairs lawfully and in ways that promote social peace.