Shloka 13
Śaṅkha–Likhita Upākhyāna: Daṇḍa, Confession, and the Purification of Kingship (शङ्ख-लिखितोपाख्यानम्)
निबोध च यथा535तिष्ठ न् धर्मान्न च्यवते नृूपः । निग्रहाद् धर्मशास्त्राणामनुरुद्धान्नपेतभी:
nibodha ca yathā tiṣṭhan dharmān na cyavate nṛpaḥ | nigrahād dharmaśāstrāṇām anuruddhān na peta-bhīḥ ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Pahamilah: seorang raja yang teguh berdiri dalam dharma tidak tergelincir darinya. Dengan menahan diri sesuai tuntunan Dharma-śāstra, ia tetap tertib dan tidak jatuh ke dalam ketakutan ataupun keruntuhan moral.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler remains established in dharma by practicing nigraha (restraint) guided by Dharma-śāstra norms; disciplined self-control prevents ethical deviation and the destabilizing effects of fear.
In the didactic discourse of the Śānti Parva, Vaiśampāyana continues explaining principles of righteous rule, emphasizing that a king’s steadiness in dharma depends on regulated conduct aligned with authoritative ethical teachings.