Shloka 19
Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)
स्वेषु धर्मेष्ववस्थाप्य प्रजा: सर्वा महीपति: । धर्मेण सर्वकृत्यानि शमनिष्ठानि कारयेत्
sveṣu dharmeṣv avasthāpya prajāḥ sarvā mahīpatiḥ | dharmeṇa sarvakṛtyāni śamanīṣṭhāni kārayet ||
Bhishma dit : Après avoir établi tous ses sujets avec fermeté dans leurs devoirs respectifs, le roi doit, conformément au dharma, faire accomplir toute entreprise nécessaire dans un esprit de paix et de retenue, afin que la vie publique progresse par des actes légitimes, apaisants et tournés vers le bien commun, plutôt que par la contrainte ou le désordre.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s primary ethical duty is to anchor society in each group’s rightful responsibilities (svadharma) and to administer all state actions through dharma, aiming at śamana—peace, restraint, and the calming of conflict—rather than arbitrary force.
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs the king on rajadharma (the duties of rulership). Here he emphasizes orderly governance: the king should ensure subjects follow their proper duties and should direct all public affairs lawfully and in ways that promote social peace.