Shloka 39
आपद्धर्मे वैश्यवृत्तिः, विक्रय-निषेधाः, तथा ब्रह्म-क्षत्र-सम्बन्धः
Emergency Livelihood, Prohibited Trade, and Brahman–Kshatra Regulation
यमाश्रित्य नरा राजन वर्तयेयुर्यथासुखम् । अनाथास्तप्यमानाश्व दस्युभि: परिपीडिता:
yam āśritya narā rājan vartayeyur yathāsukham | anāthās tapyamānāś ca dasyubhiḥ paripīḍitāḥ ||
Bhishma dijo: «Oh rey, los hombres deben poder vivir con sosiego tomando refugio en quien brinda protección. Los desamparados, afligidos y oprimidos por bandidos deben considerar a tal protector como a un pariente y honrarlo con alegre respeto. Pues, oh el mejor de los kurus, quien puede apartar una y otra vez los peligros ajenos sin temor es verdaderamente digno de honra real».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler (or any protector) is worthy of honor when he fearlessly and repeatedly removes the dangers of others; the helpless should be able to take refuge in such a person and live securely.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma addresses the king and explains the standard of true royal worth: providing dependable refuge and protection, especially for those oppressed by criminals.