Shloka 17
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
एवं मयूरवद् राजा स्वराज्यं परिपालयेत् | आत्मवृद्धिकरीं नीतिं विदधीत विचक्षण:
evaṁ mayūravad rājā svarājyaṁ paripālayet | ātmavṛddhikarīṁ nītiṁ vidadhīta vicakṣaṇaḥ ||
Bhishma dit : «Ainsi, tel le paon qui veille avec vigilance sur son propre lieu, un roi clairvoyant doit protéger et gouverner son royaume avec soin. Qu’il adopte la politique d’État qui favorise sa propre croissance—affermissant sa position et sa prospérité—afin que son règne demeure sûr et bien ordonné.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king must vigilantly protect and administer his own realm, and he should adopt prudent policies (nīti) that strengthen his stability and prosperity—advancement here means securing the kingdom through wise, beneficial governance.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship (rājadharma), Bhishma continues advising the ruler on practical governance, using the peacock as an illustrative comparison for alert protection of one’s domain and the adoption of growth-supporting policy.