Shloka 18
अज्ञान–लोभयोः परस्परहेतुत्वम्
Mutual Causality of Ignorance and Greed
बलेन संविभागैश्नलू जय स्वर्ग जनेश्वर । यस्यैव बलमोजश्न स धर्मस्य प्रभुर्नर:
balena saṁvibhāgaiś ca jaya svargaṁ janeśvara | yasyaiva balam ojaś ca sa dharmasya prabhur naraḥ ||
«Je vais maintenant décrire ce qu’il y a de plus excellent parmi les devoirs d’un roi. Ô seigneur des hommes, conquiers le ciel par une force inébranlable et par une distribution généreuse. Car l’homme qui possède véritablement force et vigueur vitale est celui qui peut soutenir et pratiquer le dharma.»
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Royal excellence is grounded in disciplined strength and generous sharing; only one who has real power and vigor can reliably uphold dharma and thereby attain the highest fruits, symbolized as victory over heaven.
Śaunaka addresses a king (‘lord of men’) and introduces a teaching on the श्रेष्ठ (best) royal duty, urging him to pursue heavenly attainment through steadfast power coupled with charitable distribution, linking ethical rule to inner strength.