Shloka 10
Gārhasthya-Śreṣṭhatā and Kṣatriya-Daṇḍadhāraṇa
Householder Primacy and the Royal Duty of Punishment
यज्ञो विद्या समुत्थानमसंतोष: श्रयं प्रति । दण्डधारणमुग्रत्वं प्रजानां परिपालनम्
yajño vidyā samutthānam asantoṣaḥ śriyaṃ prati | daṇḍadhāraṇam ugrātvaṃ prajānāṃ paripālanam ||
यज्ञ, विद्याभ्यास, उद्यम (शत्रुओं पर चढ़ाई सहित), राजलक्ष्मी पाकर भी असंतोष—अर्थात् शिथिल न पड़ना—दण्ड धारण करने की तत्परता, उग्र पराक्रम, और प्रजाओं का पालन‑रक्षण—ये राजधर्म के लक्षण हैं।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma is a balanced discipline: religious responsibility (yajña), education (vidyā), energetic initiative (samutthāna), vigilance against complacency in power (asantoṣa toward śrī), firm law-enforcement (daṇḍadhāraṇa), and above all the protection and welfare of the people (prajā-paripālana).
In the Shānti Parva’s instruction on governance, Vyāsa enumerates key royal duties, outlining the qualities and actions expected of kṣatriya rulers as part of rajadharma.