Shloka 35
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
पापमाचरतो यत्र कर्मणा व्याहृतेन वा | प्रियस्यापि न मृष्येत स राज्ञो धर्म उच्यते
pāpam ācarato yatra karmaṇā vyāhṛtena vā | priyasyāpi na mṛṣyeta sa rājño dharma ucyate ||
Di mana pun seseorang berbuat dosa—baik melalui perbuatan maupun ucapan—raja tidak boleh mengabaikannya, sekalipun pelakunya adalah orang yang dicintainya. Ketegasan yang tak memihak inilah yang dinyatakan sebagai dharma sang raja.
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s dharma is impartial justice: wrongdoing must not be excused due to personal affection. Whether the offense is by deed or by speech, the ruler should not tolerate it and should apply appropriate correction/punishment.
Utathya is instructing on rāja-dharma (the duties of kingship), emphasizing that governance must rise above favoritism. The verse frames even a beloved person as accountable under the same standard of law and ethics.