Shloka 4
Dāna–Tapaḥ Praśaṃsā and Gṛhastha-Upadeśa
Maitreya
पाहि सर्वा: प्रजा: सम्पक् शुभाशुभविदात्मवान् | शुभे: संविभजन् कामैरशुभानां च पावनै:
vyāsa uvāca | pāhi sarvāḥ prajāḥ samyak śubhāśubha-vid ātmavān | śubhaiḥ saṃvibhajan kāmān aśubhānāṃ ca pāvanaiḥ ||
सब प्रजाओं का सम्यक् रूप से पालन करो। शुभ-अशुभ का विवेक जानो और आत्मसंयमी बनो। शुभ साधनों से उचित भोग-सामग्री का वितरण करो और पावन उपायों से अशुभ का परिमार्जन करो।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must govern with discernment of good and evil, self-mastery, fair distribution of legitimate enjoyments, and active purification of social harms; steadfast performance of one’s duty leads to inner refinement and higher spiritual attainment.
Vyāsa is instructing a Kṣatriya ruler on rājadharma: protect and nurture the people properly, restrain mind and senses, promote auspicious welfare, remove inauspicious faults through purifying measures, and through sustained dharmic conduct become fit for the higher, Brāhmaṇa-like spiritual state.