Shloka 28
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
यत्र पापा ज्ञायमानाक्षरन्ति सतां कलिववंन्दते तत्र राज्ञ: । यदा राजा शास्ति नरानशिष्टां- स्तदा राज्यं वर्धते भूमिपस्य
utathya uvāca |
yatra pāpā jñāyamānāś caranti satāṁ kali-varṇaṁ dṛśyate tatra rājñaḥ |
yadā rājā śāsti narān aśiṣṭāṁs tadā rājyaṁ vardhate bhūmipasya ||
Di tempat para pendosa, meski jelas dikenali, berjalan terbuka tanpa rasa takut, orang-orang saleh memahami bahwa raja di sana telah dikepung oleh Kali—roh kemerosotan moral. Namun ketika raja menertibkan dan menghukum orang-orang bejat dan durhaka, maka kerajaan sang penguasa bumi itu tumbuh dan makmur ke segala penjuru.
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s legitimacy and the health of his realm are measured by the protection of dharma: if known wrongdoers act fearlessly, it signals moral collapse (Kali’s ascendancy) and failure of governance; firm, just discipline of the unruly enables the kingdom to flourish.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, the sage Utathya advises about signs of good and bad rule: unchecked public wrongdoing indicates the king is overpowered by Kali, whereas active punishment of the wicked leads to the growth and stability of the state.