Shloka 34
उतथ्योपदेशः—राजधर्मः, दर्पनिग्रहः, प्रजारक्षणम्
Utathya’s Instruction: Royal Dharma, Restraint of Pride, Protection of Subjects
अपरिचित स्त्रियों, बाँझ स्त्रियों, वेश्याओं, परायी स्त्रियों तथा कुमारी कनन््याओंके साथ राजा मैथुन न करे ।। कुलेषु पापरक्षांसि जायन्ते वर्णसंकरात् । अपुमांसोडड्रहीनाश्व स्थूलजिह्नला विचेतस:,जब राजा धर्मकी ओरसे प्रमाद करता है, तब वर्णसंकरताके कारण उत्तम कुलोंमें पापी और राक्षस जन्म लेते हैं। नपुंसक, काने, लँगड़े, लूले, गूँगे तथा बुद्धिहीन बालकोंकी उत्पत्ति होती है। ये तथा और भी बहुत-सी कुत्सित संतानें जन्म लेती हैं। इसलिये राजाको विशेषरूपसे धर्मपरायण एवं सावधान होकर प्रजाके हितसाधनमें तत्पर रहना चाहिये
aparicita-strībhiḥ, vandhyā-strībhiḥ, veśyābhiḥ, parastrībhiḥ tathā kumārībhiḥ rājā maithunaṁ na kuryāt. kuleṣu pāpa-rakṣāṁsi jāyante varṇa-saṅkarāt; apumāṁsaḥ kāṇāḥ laṅgāḥ hīnāṅgāḥ sthūla-jihvāḥ vice-tasaś ca. yadā rājā dharmataḥ pramādyati, tadā varṇa-saṅkarāt uttama-kuleṣu pāpinaḥ rakṣāṁsi jāyante; napuṁsakānāṁ kāṇānāṁ laṅgānāṁ lūlānāṁ mūkānāṁ buddhihīnānāṁ ca bālānāṁ utpattiḥ bhavati. ataḥ rājñā viśeṣeṇa dharma-parāyaṇena sāvadhānena ca prajā-hita-sādhane tatparaṁ bhavitavyam.
Utathya said: A king should not engage in sexual union with women who are unknown to him, barren women, prostitutes, another man’s wife, or unmarried maidens. When a ruler grows negligent toward dharma, social mixing and disorder arise; and from such confusion, even in noble families, sinful and destructive offspring are said to be born. Children may come forth who are impotent, one-eyed, lame, crippled, mute, or lacking in understanding—along with many other blameworthy forms of progeny. Therefore a king must be especially devoted to dharma, vigilant, and constantly intent on securing the welfare of his people.
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must restrain sexual conduct according to dharma and remain vigilant, because the king’s negligence is portrayed as causing social disorder (varṇa-saṅkara) and harmful consequences for families and society; therefore he should prioritize public welfare through disciplined, dharma-centered governance.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship, the sage Utathya addresses the king with prescriptive counsel, warning against illicit or socially disruptive sexual relations and linking royal heedlessness to broader societal degeneration, urging careful, dharma-driven rule for the good of the subjects.