Shloka 32
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
त्रायते हि यदा सर्व वाचा कायेन कर्मणा । पुत्रस्थापि न मृष्येच्च स राज्ञो धर्म उच्यते
trāyate hi yadā sarvaṁ vācā kāyena karmaṇā | putrasthāpi na mṛṣyec ca sa rājño dharma ucyate ||
Ketika raja melindungi semua orang melalui ucapan, perilaku jasmani, dan tindakannya, serta tidak menoleransi kejahatan bahkan pada diri putranya sendiri—itulah yang disebut dharma seorang raja.
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Royal dharma requires two complementary virtues: universal protection of the people (through word, conduct, and action) and impartial justice, meaning a ruler must not excuse wrongdoing even when committed by his own son.
In a discourse on rājadharma in the Śānti Parva, Utathya defines the king’s proper conduct: he must act as protector of all and uphold law without nepotism, presenting this as the standard of righteous kingship.