Shloka 15
Yogakṣema, Purohita, and the Mucukunda–Vaiśravaṇa Dialogue (योगक्षेम–पुरोहित–मुचुकुन्दवैश्रवणसंवादः)
ताभ्यां सम्भूय कर्तव्यं प्रजानां परिपालनम् | तथा च मां प्रवर्तन्तं कि गर्हस्यलकाधिप
tābhyāṃ sambhūya kartavyaṃ prajānāṃ paripālanam | tathā ca māṃ pravartantaṃ kiṃ garhasy alakādhipa ||
“Wahai Penguasa Alaka! Karena itu, pemeliharaan rakyat harus dilakukan oleh Brahmana dan Ksatria bersama-sama. Aku pun bertindak menurut kebijakan itu; mengapa engkau mencelaku?”
धनद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Good governance (prajā-paripālana) is presented as a shared duty requiring cooperation between Brahmins (guidance, counsel, dharma) and Kshatriyas (executive protection and rule). Ethical action is defended by appealing to established policy aligned with dharma.
Dhanada addresses the lord of Alakā, asserting that he is acting according to the proper principle of joint Brahmin–Kshatriya responsibility for protecting subjects, and questions why he is being criticized despite following that dharmic norm.