Shloka 52
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
तस्मादर्थाच्च कामाच्च धर्म एवोत्तरो भवेत् । अस्मिल्लोके परे चैव धर्मात्मा सुखमेधते
tasmād arthāc ca kāmāc ca dharma evottaro bhavet | asmillo ke pare caiva dharmātmā sukham edhate ||
Ainsi, lorsqu’on réfléchit avec justesse, le Dharma seul se révèle supérieur à la richesse (artha) comme au désir (kāma). L’homme voué au Dharma s’épanouit dans le bonheur — en ce monde et dans l’au-delà.
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is to be regarded as higher than both artha (material gain) and kāma (pleasure), because it yields lasting welfare and happiness not only in this life but also beyond.
Utathya is instructing his listener in the Shanti Parva’s ethical discourse, ranking the human aims and concluding that Dharma should guide choices over the pursuit of wealth or pleasure.