Shloka 28
राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः
Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures
हस्ताद्धस्तं परिमुषेद् भिद्येरन् सर्वसेतव: । भयार्त॑ विद्रवेत् सर्व यदि राजा न पालयेत्
hastād hastaṁ parimuṣed bhidyeran sarva-setavaḥ | bhayārtā vidravet sarve yadi rājā na pālayet ||
Dijo Vasumanā: Si el rey no protege (a sus súbditos y el orden social), los ladrones arrebatarán incluso lo que uno lleva en la mano; se quebrarán todos los límites y las normas, y todos, oprimidos por el miedo, huirán en todas direcciones. El verso subraya que la protección real no es mero poder, sino un deber moral que preserva la seguridad pública y el tejido del dharma.
वसुमना उवाच
Educational Q&A
The king’s primary dharma is protection (pālana). Without just governance and enforcement of order, society collapses into theft, fear, and the breakdown of moral and legal boundaries (setu).
Vasumanā is explaining the consequences of a ruler failing to protect: criminals become bold enough to snatch possessions openly, social restraints dissolve, and the populace—overwhelmed by fear—scatters and lives in insecurity.