Shloka 15
उतथ्योपदेशः—राजधर्मः, दर्पनिग्रहः, प्रजारक्षणम्
Utathya’s Instruction: Royal Dharma, Restraint of Pride, Protection of Subjects
यस्मिन् धर्मो विराजेत तं राजानं प्रचक्षते । यस्मिन् विलीयते धर्मस्तं देवा वृषलं विदु:
yasmin dharmo virājeta taṃ rājānaṃ pracakṣate | yasmin vilīyate dharmas taṃ devā vṛṣalaṃ viduḥ ||
Dia yang di dalam dirinya dharma bersinar, dialah yang sungguh disebut raja; tetapi dia yang di dalam dirinya dharma luluh dan lenyap—dia dikenali para dewa sebagai vṛṣala, penguasa yang jatuh dan tak layak.
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s legitimacy is measured by dharma: where dharma visibly prevails, one deserves the title ‘king’; where dharma has vanished, even if power remains, the ruler is deemed fallen and unfit.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance and conduct, the sage Utathya defines true kingship by the presence of dharma and condemns rulers who let dharma decay, stating that the gods themselves regard such a person as a vṛṣala.