Shloka 22
राजधर्मः—प्रजापालनं दानयज्ञश्च
Royal Duty—Protection of Subjects, Generosity, and Sacrificial Discipline
न होतामाशिषं पाण्डुर्न च कुन्ती त्वयाचत । तथैतत् प्रज्ञया तात यथा55चरसि मेधया
na hotām āśiṣaṁ pāṇḍur na ca kuntī tvayācat | tathaitat prajñayā tāta yathā carasi medhayā ||
Bhīṣma dijo: «Ni Pāṇḍu te pidió jamás una bendición, ni Kuntī te la solicitó. Y, sin embargo, querido hijo, te conduces en este asunto con tal discernimiento e inteligencia que ello concuerda con el bien supremo».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Right conduct should rest on wisdom and discernment rather than on entitlement or prior claims; even without being asked for a boon, one may act in a way that aligns with dharma and the greater good.
In the instruction-setting of Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma addresses his listener and notes that neither Pāṇḍu nor Kuntī requested a blessing from that person, yet the person’s present behavior shows mature judgment and intelligence, which Bhīṣma commends.