Shloka 22
Vidurā–Putra Saṃvāda: Utsāha, Kīrti, and Kṣātra Resolve
Udyoga-parva 131
न हि वैक्लव्यसंसृष्ट आनृशंस्ये व्यवस्थित: । प्रजापालनसम्भूतं फलं किंचन लब्धवान्
na hi vaiklavyasaṃsṛṣṭa ānṛśaṃsye vyavasthitaḥ | prajā-pālana-sambhūtaṃ phalaṃ kiṃcana labdhavān |
Vāyu dit : «Celui qui se mêle d’impuissance et demeure fixé seulement dans une pitié attendrie, jusqu’à en devenir incapable d’agir, n’obtient aucun fruit issu du devoir de protéger les sujets. La compassion qui s’effondre en incapacité n’a jamais remporté le mérite né d’un gouvernement responsable.»
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Compassion (ānṛśaṃsya) is virtuous, but when it becomes helpless weakness (vaiklavyam) it fails the demands of rājadharma. The merit of rulership arises from actively protecting and sustaining the people, not from sentimental pity that cannot act.
Vāyu is instructing the listener on the ethics of leadership: a ruler or protector must not let tender-heartedness degrade into incapacity. True duty requires firmness to secure the welfare of the subjects; otherwise the distinctive ‘fruit’ of prajā-pālana is not attained.