Shloka 99
Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
अधर्मज्ञस्य विलयं प्रजा गच्छन्ति निग्रहात् । राजा मूलं त्रिवर्गस्य स्वप्रमत्तोडनुपालयेत्
adharmajñasya vilayaṁ prajā gacchanti nigrahāt | rājā mūlaṁ trivargasya svapramatto 'nupālayet ||
王がダルマを知らぬなら、誤った統治と強圧のもとで民は滅びへと追いやられる。王は人生の三目的（ダルマ・アルタ・カーマ）の根であるゆえ、うかつに政を執ってはならない。自制と警戒をもって守り、治めるべきである。
ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s personal understanding of dharma and his vigilance are decisive for public welfare: negligent or unrighteous rule harms the people, while righteous, attentive governance sustains dharma, prosperity, and legitimate enjoyment (the trivarga).
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on राजधर्म (the duties of rulers), Brahmadatta states a principle of political ethics: when a ruler lacks dharma-knowledge and governs through oppressive control, the subjects deteriorate; therefore the king must rule carefully and protectively, as the foundation of society’s aims.