Shloka 13
Guṇa-vibhāga and Prāṇa–Agni–Yoga Upadeśa (गुणविभाग तथा प्राण-अग्नि-योगोपदेश)
पालने हि महान् धर्म: प्रजानामिह दृश्यते । न तथा दृश्यते5रण्ये माभूत् ते बुद्धिरीदृशी,क्योंकि आपके लिये यहाँ रहकर प्रजाओंका पालन करनेमें जो महान् धर्म देखा जाता है, वैसा वनमें रहकर तपस्या करनेमें नहीं दिखायी देता। अत: आपकी ऐसी समझ नहीं होनी चाहिये
pālane hi mahān dharmaḥ prajānām iha dṛśyate | na tathā dṛśyate 'raṇye mābhūt te buddhir īdṛśī ||
Uttanka said: “Here, the great duty is clearly seen in protecting and sustaining the people. That same great dharma is not seen in the same way in a life of forest austerities. Therefore, do not let your understanding turn in that direction.”
उत्तड़क उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse prioritizes rajadharma: for one responsible for society, protecting and sustaining the people is a visible and weighty dharma, not to be abandoned for forest austerities when governance and care of subjects are required.
Uttanka admonishes the listener not to incline toward withdrawing into the forest, arguing that the greater, more evident duty in the present context is the protection and maintenance of the people.