Shloka 32
राजधर्मः—राष्ट्ररक्षणं, दण्डनीतिः, हयग्रीवोपाख्यानम्
Royal Duty: Protection, Penal Policy, and the Hayagrīva Exemplum
दीक्षां राज्ञ: संयुगे युद्धमाहु- योग राज्ये दण्डनीत्यां च सम्यक् । वित्तत्यागो दक्षिणानां च यज्ञे सम्यग दानं पावनानीति विद्यात्
dīkṣāṁ rājñaḥ saṁyuge yuddham āhur yogaṁ rājye daṇḍanītyāṁ ca samyak | vittatyāgo dakṣiṇānāṁ ca yajñe samyag dānaṁ pāvanānīti vidyāt ||
ヴィヤーサは言った――王にとっては、戦場で奮闘するその行為こそが、祭祀に入るためのディークシャー（灌頂・受戒）であると説かれる。国を守り、ダルマにかなう統治と刑罰の学（ダンダニーティ）に堅く立つことが、王のヨーガの修行である。祭礼においてダクシナーとして財を捨て、正しく施すこと――それが王の真の離欲である。これら三つの務めが王を清めるのだと知れ。
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse reframes a king’s spiritual life in terms of public duty: (1) courageous engagement in rightful battle is his sacrificial consecration, (2) just governance through daṇḍanīti is his yogic discipline, and (3) giving—especially sacrificial fees and proper charity—is his renunciation. These three purify the ruler.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Vyāsa explains to the listener that a king’s path to purity is not withdrawal from action but the righteous performance of royal responsibilities—war when necessary, protection and justice in शासन, and generous giving.