Shloka 36

राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः

Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures

Devanagari script

यदा राजा धुरं श्रेष्ठामादाय वहति प्रजा: । महता बलयोगेन तदा लोक: प्रसीदति,जब राजा विशाल सैनिक-शक्तिके सहयोगसे भारी भार उठाकर प्रजाकी रक्षाका भार वहन करता है, तब यह सम्पूर्ण जगत्‌ प्रसन्न होता है

Transliteration

yadā rājā dhuraṃ śreṣṭhām ādāya vahati prajāḥ | mahatā balayogena tadā lokaḥ prasīdati ||

Translation

Lorsque le roi prend sur lui le fardeau le plus éminent du gouvernement et, avec l’appui d’une grande force et d’un pouvoir discipliné, porte la responsabilité de protéger ses sujets, alors tout le royaume devient apaisé et en sûreté.

Word by Word

यदाwhen

राजाthe king

धुरम्burden, load

श्रेष्ठाम्excellent, foremost

आदायhaving taken up

वहतिcarries, bears

प्रजाःthe subjects, people

महताby great (means)

बलयोगेनby the application/combination of strength

तदाthen

लोकःthe world, people (as a whole)

प्रसीदतिis pleased, becomes content

Speaker

वसुमना उवाच

Characters & Entities

rājā (king)

prajāḥ (subjects/people)

lokaḥ (the realm/world)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s dharma is to personally assume the heavy responsibility of protection and governance; when this burden is borne with great, well-directed strength (bala-yoga), society becomes peaceful and satisfied.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vasumanā states a principle of rājadharma: the king, by taking up the foremost burden and safeguarding the people with strong support and disciplined power, brings contentment to the entire realm.