Shloka 3
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
भीष्म उवाच राजवृत्तं महाराज शृणुष्वावहितो5खिलम् । यत् कार्य पार्थिवेनादौ पार्थिवप्रकृतेन वा
bhīṣma uvāca rājavṛttaṃ mahārāja śṛṇuṣvāvahito 'khilam | yat kāryaṃ pārthivenādau pārthivaprakṛtena vā ||
भीष्म बोले—महाराज! राजधर्म का समस्त आचार-व्यवहार सावधान होकर सुनो। जो कार्य राजा को आरम्भ में करना चाहिए—और जो स्वभाव व कर्तव्य से राजसेवा के योग्य पुरुष को भी करना चाहिए—वह मैं बताता हूँ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames the start of his instruction on rājadharma: a king (and those acting in royal capacity) must first learn and follow the complete discipline of proper governance, approached with careful attention and seriousness.
In the Shanti Parva’s post-war instruction, Bhishma addresses Yudhishthira and begins laying out the principles of statecraft and ethical kingship, asking him to listen closely as he explains what a ruler should do first.