Shloka 53
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
त्यजन्ति दारान् पुत्रांश्न मनुष्या: परिपूजिता: । संग्रहश्चवैव भूतानां दानं च मधुरा च वाक्ू
tyajanti dārān putrāṁś ca manuṣyāḥ paripūjitāḥ | saṁgrahaś caiva bhūtānāṁ dānaṁ ca madhurā ca vāk ||
Utathya dit : «Même les hommes honorés et estimés abandonnent épouses et fils. C’est pourquoi il faut cultiver ce qui soutient véritablement la vie : le soin et le soutien accordés aux êtres, la générosité du don, et une parole douce et conciliatrice.»
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Utathya emphasizes that worldly ties—even to spouse and children—can be relinquished, so one should ground one’s life in enduring virtues: supporting living beings (compassionate care), practicing dāna (generosity), and speaking with madhurā vāk (gentle, beneficial speech).
In the Shanti Parva’s ethical instruction, Utathya is delivering counsel on dharma: he contrasts the instability of familial attachments with the stability of moral conduct, urging practices that preserve social and spiritual well-being.