Shloka 54
राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः
Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures
राजा भोजो विराट सम्राट क्षत्रियो भूपतिर्नप: । य एश्रि: स्तूयते शब्दै: कस्तं नार्चितुमहति,भोज, विराट, सम्राट, क्षत्रिय, भूपति और नृप--इन शब्दोंद्वारा जिस राजाकी स्तुति की जाती है, उस प्रजापालक नरेशकी पूजा कौन नहीं करेगा?
rājā bhojo virāṭ samrāṭ kṣatriyo bhūpatir nṛpaḥ | ya eṣaḥ śrīḥ stūyate śabdaiḥ kas taṃ nārcitum arhati ||
Vasumanā berkata: “Raja, Bhoja, Virāṭ, maharaja universal, Kṣatriya, penguasa bumi, nṛpa—dengan sebutan-sebutan demikian kemuliaannya dipuji. Siapakah yang tidak menganggap patut untuk menghormati pelindung rakyat itu?”
वसुमना उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical logic of honoring rightful kingship: when a ruler is praised with titles that imply protection, sovereignty, and public responsibility, it is considered proper to show reverence to that guardian of the people—linking social honor to the king’s dharmic function.
Vasumanā is speaking within the Shānti Parva’s discussions on conduct and governance, pointing to the cultural practice of praising a ruler with exalted epithets and arguing that such a publicly acknowledged protector naturally merits honor and worshipful respect.