Shloka 37
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
यदा5>प्तदक्षिणैर्यज्जैर्यजते श्रद्धयान्वित: । कामद्वेषावनादृत्य स राज्ञो धर्म उच्यते
yadāptadakṣiṇair yajñair yajate śraddhayānvitaḥ | kāmadveṣāv anādṛtya sa rājño dharma ucyate ||
Lorsque le roi accomplit des sacrifices avec foi, en accordant des honoraires sacrificiels suffisants, et qu’il le fait sans céder aux élans du désir et de la haine, cette conduite est proclamée le dharma du roi.
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Royal dharma is defined as performing public, faith-filled sacrificial duties with proper generosity (dakṣiṇā), while remaining free from personal bias—specifically the pull of desire (kāma) and hatred (dveṣa).
Utathya is instructing about rājadharma in the Śānti Parva, identifying a king’s righteous conduct as disciplined ritual action and giving, carried out sincerely and without being driven by personal likes and dislikes.