Shloka 3
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
भीष्म उवाच राजवृत्तं महाराज शृणुष्वावहितो5खिलम् । यत् कार्य पार्थिवेनादौ पार्थिवप्रकृतेन वा
bhīṣma uvāca rājavṛttaṃ mahārāja śṛṇuṣvāvahito 'khilam | yat kāryaṃ pārthivenādau pārthivaprakṛtena vā ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ô grand roi, écoute avec attention l’ensemble du code de la conduite royale. Je te dirai ce qu’un souverain doit faire d’abord — et de même ce que doit faire celui qui, par nature et par devoir, est apte à servir le roi et à accomplir les charges du royaume.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames the start of his instruction on rājadharma: a king (and those acting in royal capacity) must first learn and follow the complete discipline of proper governance, approached with careful attention and seriousness.
In the Shanti Parva’s post-war instruction, Bhishma addresses Yudhishthira and begins laying out the principles of statecraft and ethical kingship, asking him to listen closely as he explains what a ruler should do first.