Shloka 35
राजधर्मः—प्रजापालनं दानयज्ञश्च
Royal Duty—Protection of Subjects, Generosity, and Sacrificial Discipline
त्वमेव प्रीतिमांस्तस्मात् कुरूणां कुरुसत्तम । भव राजा जय स्वर्ग सतो रक्षासतो जहि
tvam eva prītimāṁs tasmāt kurūṇāṁ kurusattama | bhava rājā jaya svargaṁ sato rakṣāsato jahi ||
Dijo Bhishma: «Por ello, oh el mejor de los Kurus, tú solo—con ánimo benevolente—debes ser el rey del pueblo Kuru. Protege a los justos, destruye a los injustos, y cumpliendo así tu deber, conquista la victoria en el cielo».
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma is to accept kingship with a benevolent mind, protect the righteous, restrain and punish the unrighteous, and thereby uphold social order; such faithful performance of duty is presented as a path to heavenly merit.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance, Bhishma exhorts the Kuru heir (contextually Yudhiṣṭhira) to take up the throne, rule with goodwill, safeguard virtuous subjects, and suppress wrongdoing, framing kingship as a moral responsibility rather than a mere privilege.