Shloka 37
राज्ञोऽभिषेकः, अराजकदोषः, दण्डधारणस्य आवश्यकता
Royal Consecration, the Fault of Kinglessness, and the Necessity of Enforcement
धर्मे स्थिता सत्त्ववीर्या धर्मसेतुवटारका । त्यागवाताध्वगा शीघ्रा नौस्तं संतारयिष्यति
dharme sthitā sattvavīryā dharmasetuvaṭārakā | tyāgavātādhvagā śīghrā naus taṃ santārayiṣyati ||
Bhīṣma dit : « L’unique barque nommée devoir royal est établie dans le Dharma. Sa force est la puissance du sattva (clarté et vertu) ; la corde qui la lie et la maintient est l’enseignement du Dharma ; poussée vivement sur sa route par le vent du renoncement, cette barque même fera traverser au roi l’océan de l’existence mondaine. »
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that a king crosses the dangers of worldly life and rule by relying on rājadharma grounded in Dharma: guided by sattva (inner virtue and clarity), secured by dharmaśāstra (normative guidance), and propelled by tyāga (renunciation of selfish gain).
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance, Bhishma continues advising the king on the foundations of righteous rule, using an extended boat metaphor to show how virtue, scripture, and renunciation together enable safe and successful kingship.