Shloka 99
Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
अधर्मज्ञस्य विलयं प्रजा गच्छन्ति निग्रहात् । राजा मूलं त्रिवर्गस्य स्वप्रमत्तोडनुपालयेत्
adharmajñasya vilayaṁ prajā gacchanti nigrahāt | rājā mūlaṁ trivargasya svapramatto 'nupālayet ||
Di bawah penindasan penguasa yang tak mengenal dharma, rakyat menuju kebinasaan. Raja adalah akar dari tiga tujuan hidup (dharma, artha, kāma); maka janganlah ia memerintah dalam kelengahan—hendaknya ia melindungi dengan kewaspadaan.
ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s personal understanding of dharma and his vigilance are decisive for public welfare: negligent or unrighteous rule harms the people, while righteous, attentive governance sustains dharma, prosperity, and legitimate enjoyment (the trivarga).
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on राजधर्म (the duties of rulers), Brahmadatta states a principle of political ethics: when a ruler lacks dharma-knowledge and governs through oppressive control, the subjects deteriorate; therefore the king must rule carefully and protectively, as the foundation of society’s aims.