Shloka 2
Vāmadeva’s Counsel on Rooted Kingship and Non-violent Victory (वामदेवोपदेशः—दृढमूलराजधर्मः)
न चाप्यलब्धं लिप्सेत मूले नातिदृढे सति | न हि दुर्बलमूलस्य राज्ञो लाभो विधीयते
na cāpy alabdhaṃ lipseta mūle nātidṛḍhe sati | na hi durbalamūlasya rājño lābho vidhīyate ||
Selama dasar kekuasaan belum teguh, raja tidak patut mengidamkan apa yang belum diperolehnya—seperti mengincar wilayah baru. Sebab bagi penguasa yang akarnya lemah, keuntungan yang diharap itu tidak sungguh dapat terwujud.
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should first strengthen the kingdom’s foundations—administration, resources, alliances, internal stability—before desiring further acquisitions. Without a firm base, ambitions for expansion will not yield real success.
In the Śānti Parva’s rājadharma instruction, the sage Vāmadeva addresses a king with counsel on governance, warning against pursuing new gains when the state’s root strength is inadequate.