Shloka 12
Book 12, Chapter 93 — Vāmadeva’s Counsel to King Vasumanā on Dharmic Kingship (धर्मप्रधान-राजधर्मोपदेशः)
न पूर्णोडस्मीति मन्येत धर्मत: कामतो<र्थत: । बुद्धितो मित्रतश्नापि सततं वसुधाधिप:
na pūrṇo ’smi iti manyeta dharmataḥ kāmato ’rthataḥ | buddhito mitrataś cāpi satataṃ vasudhādhipaḥ ||
Vāmadeva dit : «Le roi, seigneur de la terre, ne doit jamais se dire : “Je suis accompli.” Même pourvu de dharma, d’artha, de kāma, d’un jugement sûr et d’amis fidèles, il doit demeurer vigilant et s’efforcer sans cesse de fortifier et d’accroître ces appuis du pouvoir. Car la complaisance dans la royauté devient la porte du déclin.»
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should avoid complacency. Even when established in dharma, prosperity (artha), legitimate enjoyment (kāma), good judgment (buddhi), and strong alliances (mitra), he must keep cultivating and safeguarding these foundations, because kingship requires continuous effort and vigilance.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on royal duty (rājadharma), the sage Vāmadeva addresses the ideal conduct of a king, emphasizing that a sovereign should not become self-satisfied but should constantly work to strengthen righteousness, resources, wise counsel, and alliances.