Shloka 49
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
तदण्डविन्नूषप: प्राज्ञ: शूर: शक्नोति रक्षितुम् । न हि शक््यमदण्डेन क्लीबेनाबुद्धिनापि वा
taddaṇḍavinnūṣapaḥ prājñaḥ śūraḥ śaknoti rakṣitum | na hi śakyam adaṇḍena klībena abuddhināpi vā ||
Utathya dit : Seul le souverain sage et vaillant, qui connaît l’usage juste du châtiment (daṇḍa), est capable de protéger le royaume. Car un pays ne peut être sauvegardé par celui qui est sans daṇḍa — pas plus que par un roi craintif, sans vigueur virile ou dépourvu d’intelligence, qui recule devant l’application de la discipline.
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A kingdom is protected only by a ruler who is both wise and courageous and who knows how to apply daṇḍa (punitive authority) appropriately; reluctance to enforce discipline makes governance ineffective.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, the sage Utathya teaches principles of kingship, emphasizing that effective protection of the realm requires informed and resolute use of punishment and law-enforcement.