Shloka 21
राजधर्मः—प्रजापालनं दानयज्ञश्च
Royal Duty—Protection of Subjects, Generosity, and Sacrificial Discipline
न हि वैक्लव्यसंसृष्टमानृशंस्यमिहास्थित: । प्रजापालनसम्भूतमाप्ता धर्मफलं हासि,इस प्रकार व्याकुलताजनित कोमलताका आश्रय लेकर तुम यहाँ प्रजापालनसे सुलभ होनेवाले धर्मके फलको नहीं पा सकोगे
na hi vaiklavyasaṁsṛṣṭam ānṛśaṁsyam ihāsthitaḥ | prajā-pālana-sambhūtam āptā dharma-phalaṁ hāsi ||
Bhishma dijo: «Si permaneces aquí refugiándote en una blandura de corazón nacida de la agitación y la impotencia, no alcanzarás el fruto del dharma que surge de proteger y gobernar a los súbditos. La verdadera rectitud de un gobernante no se asegura con una compasión vacilante, sino con una responsabilidad firme en salvaguardar al pueblo».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must not let helpless agitation masquerade as compassion; the true fruit of dharma for a king comes from steadfast protection and governance of the people (prajā-pālana).
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and ethics, Bhishma admonishes the listener that remaining inactive out of emotional weakness will forfeit the righteous merit that is earned through responsible rule and protection of subjects.