Shloka 26
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
व्यवसायं समाधाय सूर्यो रश्मीनिवायतान् | धर्ममेवाभिरक्षेत कृत्वा तुल्ये प्रियाप्रिये
vyavasāyaṃ samādhāya sūryo raśmīn ivāyatān | dharmam evābhirakṣeta kṛtvā tulye priyāpriye ||
ビーシュマは言った。王は決意を堅く定めよ。遠くまで光を伸ばす太陽のごとく。そうして、好ましいものも好ましくないものも等しく見て、ただダルマのみを守護すべきである。たゆまぬ努力と不偏の心をもって正義を第一の務めとし、私情の愛憎に揺らがず、すべてを護れ。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must be steadfast in effort and impartial in judgment, not driven by personal preference. His primary obligation is to protect dharma—public righteousness and just order—just as the sun spreads its rays for the benefit of all.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on ideal kingship. Here he uses the sun’s universally extended rays as an image for a king’s impartial protection of dharma and subjects.