Shloka 27
राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः
Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures
न लभेद् धर्मसंश्लेषं हतविप्रहतो जन: । हर्ता स्वस्थेन्द्रियो गच्छेद् यदि राजा न पालयेत्
na labhed dharma-saṁśleṣaṁ hata-viprahato janaḥ | hartā svasthendriyo gacched yadi rājā na pālayet ||
Dijo Vasumanā: «Si el rey no protege (a sus súbditos y el reino), la gente, abatida y afligida, perderá todo vínculo con el dharma; y el ladrón, tras llevarse los bienes ajenos, partirá a salvo, con el cuerpo y los sentidos intactos».
वसुमना उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the ruler’s primary duty is protection and enforcement of order; without royal protection, people lose faith and adherence to dharma, while wrongdoing becomes safe and profitable—undermining moral and social stability.
In the Shanti Parva’s discussion of राजधर्म (the duties of kings), Vasumanā argues that if a king fails to govern and protect, society collapses: the afflicted populace abandons dharma and thieves can steal and return unharmed.