Shloka 19
Book 12, Chapter 93 — Vāmadeva’s Counsel to King Vasumanā on Dharmic Kingship (धर्मप्रधान-राजधर्मोपदेशः)
गुरुप्रधानो धर्मेषु स्वयमर्थानवेक्षिता | धर्मप्रधानो लाभेषु स चिरं सुखमश्षुते
gurupradhāno dharmeṣu svayam arthānavekṣitā | dharmapradhāno lābheṣu sa ciraṁ sukham aśnute ||
जो धर्म के विषय में गुरु को प्रधान मानकर उनके उपदेश के अनुसार चलता है, जो स्वयं ही अर्थ-सम्बन्धी कार्यों की देख-रेख करता है, और सब प्रकार के लाभों में धर्म को ही प्रधान लाभ समझता है—वह चिरकाल तक सुख का उपभोग करता है।
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Make dharma the primary standard: follow the guru’s guidance in moral matters, manage worldly affairs responsibly without negligence, and treat dharma itself as the greatest profit; this orientation leads to enduring happiness.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous living, the sage Vāmadeva states a principle of conduct: prioritize the guru in dharma, personally attend to artha-related duties, and place dharma above all gains, describing the long-term result as sustained happiness.