Shloka 9
राजधर्मस्य नवनीतम्—रक्षा, दण्ड, चार, उत्थान
Rājadharma’s ‘Essence’: Protection, Punishment, Intelligence, and Royal Diligence
बलानां हर्षणं नित्यं प्रजानामन्ववेक्षणम् । कार्येष्वखेद: कोशस्य तथैव च विवर्धनम्
bhīṣma uvāca | balānāṁ harṣaṇaṁ nityaṁ prajānām anvavekṣaṇam | kāryeṣv akhedaḥ kośasya tathaiva ca vivardhanam, yudhiṣṭhira |
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai Yudhisthira, sarana menjaga kerajaan mencakup: senantiasa membangkitkan kegembiraan dan semangat pasukan; mengawasi rakyat tanpa putus; menjalankan urusan negara tanpa letih dan tanpa kelengahan; serta terus-menerus menambah perbendaharaan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler preserves the state through four continuous disciplines: keep the army encouraged, watch over the people directly, remain untiring in public duties, and steadily strengthen the treasury. The verse frames governance as sustained vigilance and responsible stewardship rather than occasional action.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma—lying on his bed of arrows—teaches Yudhishthira practical principles of kingship. This verse is a compact summary of key administrative priorities: morale, public welfare oversight, diligent execution of tasks, and fiscal growth.