Shloka 12
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
दुर्बलार्थ बल॑ सृष्टं धात्रा मान्धातरुच्यते । अबलं तु महद्धूतं यस्मिन् सर्व प्रतिष्ठितम्
durbalārthaṃ balaṃ sṛṣṭaṃ dhātrā māndhātar ucyate | abalaṃ tu mahad bhūtaṃ yasmin sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam ||
Ô Māndhātṛ, on dit que le Créateur a institué la puissance royale pour les faibles, afin que ceux qui sont sans force soient protégés. Car l’immense multitude des impuissants repose sur la force du roi comme sur son appui.
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Royal power is justified ethically as a protective institution: the king’s strength exists primarily to safeguard the weak, and society’s vulnerable depend upon that strength for stability.
Utathya addresses King Māndhātṛ, explaining a principle of rājadharma: the Creator established kingship and force so that the powerless multitude may be protected and supported.