Shloka 14
अध्याय ५७ — राज्ञः नित्यप्रयत्नः, रक्षा-प्रधानता, तथा त्याग-नीतिः
Chapter 57: Constant Royal Vigilance, Primacy of Protection, and Principles of Dismissal
त्रय्यां संवृतमन्त्रश्न॒ राजा भवितुम्ति । वृजिनं च नरेन्द्राणां नान्यच्चारक्षणात् परम्
trayyāṃ saṃvṛta-mantraś ca rājā bhavitum arhati | vṛjinaṃ ca narendrāṇāṃ nānyac cārakṣaṇāt param ||
Hanya dia yang layak menjadi raja: yang menguasai tiga Veda dan mampu menyembunyikan musyawarahnya dengan rapat. Bagi para penguasa, tiada keburukan yang lebih besar daripada gagal melindungi rakyat.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s foremost dharma is protection: neglecting the safety and welfare of the people is the gravest fault for a king. Alongside this, a king should be Veda-trained and prudent, keeping counsel confidential.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on the qualifications and duties of kingship, emphasizing Vedic grounding, discretion in policy, and the supreme obligation to protect the subjects.