Shloka 17
Book 12, Chapter 93 — Vāmadeva’s Counsel to King Vasumanā on Dharmic Kingship (धर्मप्रधान-राजधर्मोपदेशः)
अथ मानयितुर्दाम्न: श्लक्षणस्य वशवर्तिन: । व्यसन स्वमिवोत्पन्नं विजिघांसन्ति मानवा:
atha mānayitur dāmnaḥ ślakṣṇasya vaśavartinaḥ | vyasanaṃ svam ivotpannaṃ vijighāṃsanti mānavāḥ ||
जो सबका मान करने वाला, दानी, सौम्य स्वभाव का और दूसरों का विचार कर उनके अनुकूल रहने वाला है—उस पर यदि कोई विपत्ति आ पड़े, तो लोग उसे अपना ही संकट मानकर उसे दूर करने का प्रयत्न करते हैं।
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
A person who consistently respects others, gives generously, and behaves gently earns collective goodwill; therefore, when adversity strikes him, society naturally rallies to help, treating his distress as their own.
Vāmadeva is describing a moral principle in the Shānti Parva: the social and ethical consequences of virtuous conduct—how a beneficent, considerate person becomes protected by the affection and support of others in times of crisis.