Shloka 33
राज्ञोऽभिषेकः, अराजकदोषः, दण्डधारणस्य आवश्यकता
Royal Consecration, the Fault of Kinglessness, and the Necessity of Enforcement
धर्मारामान् धर्मपरान् ये न रक्षन्ति मानवान् । पार्थिवा: पुरुषव्याप्र तेषां पापं हरन्ति ते,पुरुषसिंह! जो राजा धर्ममें ही रमण करनेवाले धर्मपरायण मानवोंकी रक्षा नहीं करते हैं, वे उनके पाप बटोर लेते हैं
dharmārāmān dharmaparān ye na rakṣanti mānavān | pārthivāḥ puruṣavyāghra teṣāṃ pāpaṃ haranti te ||
Bhishma dijo: «Oh tigre entre los hombres, los reyes que no protegen a los hombres entregados al dharma—que se deleitan en la rectitud y viven conforme a ella—acaban recogiendo sobre sí el pecado de esos súbditos.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s primary dharma is protection. If a ruler neglects to protect righteous, dharma-abiding people, the moral blame for resulting harm and disorder accrues to the ruler; the king 'takes' their sin by failing his duty.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance, Bhishma teaches the principles of rajadharma to the king (traditionally Yudhiṣṭhira). Here he warns that failure to protect virtuous subjects is not neutral—it makes the ruler morally accountable for the wrongdoing that follows.