Shloka 5
राज्ञोऽभिषेकः, अराजकदोषः, दण्डधारणस्य आवश्यकता
Royal Consecration, the Fault of Kinglessness, and the Necessity of Enforcement
अकामद्वेषयुक्तस्य दण्डनीत्या युधिष्ठिर । समदर्शिनिश्च भूतेषु भैक्ष्याश्रमप्दं भवेत्
akāmadveṣayuktasya daṇḍanītyā yudhiṣṭhira | samadarśinaś ca bhūteṣu bhaikṣyāśramapadaṃ bhavet, kuntīnandana! naraśreṣṭha! |
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai Yudhiṣṭhira, bila seorang raja bebas dari hasrat dan kebencian, memerintah menurut daṇḍanīti (tata keadilan dan penegakan hukuman), serta memandang semua makhluk dengan mata yang sama, ia mencapai kedudukan tertinggi yang menjadi tujuan jalan hidup pengemis suci—yakni āśrama perenungan dan pelepasan (bhikṣu/sannyāsa).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler who governs by just discipline (daṇḍanīti) while remaining free from desire and hatred, and who is impartial toward all beings, can attain the same spiritual fruit associated with the renunciant’s path—showing that inner detachment and fairness can sanctify even worldly kingship.
In the Śānti Parva dialogue on kingship and dharma, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira that true royal duty is not mere power but ethical governance: impartiality, self-control, and justice elevate a king to the highest moral and spiritual standing.