Shloka 4
राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)
त्रिवर्गों हि समासक्तो राजधर्मेषु कौरव । मोक्षधर्मश्ष विस्पष्ट: सकलो<त्र समाहित:
trivargo hi samāsakto rājadharmeṣu kaurava | mokṣadharmaś ca vispaṣṭaḥ sakalo ’tra samāhitaḥ ||
युधिष्ठिर बोले— हे कौरव! राजधर्मों में धर्म, अर्थ और काम—ये तीनों पुरुषार्थ परस्पर जुड़े हुए और सक्रिय रहते हैं। और यह भी स्पष्ट है कि सम्पूर्ण मोक्षधर्म भी अपने पूर्ण रूप में यहीं राजधर्म के भीतर समाहित है।
युधिषछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Rāja-dharma is not merely political technique; it integrates the full spectrum of human aims (dharma, artha, kāma) and can also encompass the principles that lead toward mokṣa. Ethical governance is presented as a comprehensive discipline with spiritual depth.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance and ethics, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a Kuru elder/kinsman and frames the discussion: the science of kingship contains within it both worldly responsibilities and the broader moral-spiritual teachings, including those oriented to liberation.