Shloka 45
राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः
Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures
यदा त्वधार्मिकान् सर्वास्ती&#णैर्दण्डैर्नियच्छति । धार्मिकांश्चानुगृह्लाति भवत्यथ यमस्तदा
yadā tv adhārmikān sarvās tīvrāir daṇḍair niyacchati | dhārmikāṁś cānugṛhṇāti bhavaty atha yamas tadā ||
Cuando refrena a todos los injustos con castigos severos—sometiéndolos y devolviéndolos al sendero recto—y cuando favorece a los justos, entonces, en ese momento, es tenido por Yama, señor de la justicia.
वसुमना उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines the ethical function of authority: firm punishment (daṇḍa) must restrain wrongdoing and guide the unrighteous back toward dharma, while the righteous deserve protection and favor. When governance performs this balancing act of correction and support, it embodies Yama—impartial moral regulation.
Vasumanā is explaining a criterion by which a ruler or governing power is identified with Yama: when it forcefully checks adharmic conduct through strict penalties and simultaneously grants protection and grace to dharmic people, it is functioning as the cosmic judge.