Shloka 36
राजधर्मः—राष्ट्ररक्षणं, दण्डनीतिः, हयग्रीवोपाख्यानम्
Royal Duty: Protection, Penal Policy, and the Hayagrīva Exemplum
यस्य वृत्तं नमस्यन्ति स्वर्गस्थस्यापि मानवा: । पौरजानपदामात्या: स राजा राजसत्तम:
yasya vṛttaṃ namasyanti svargasthasyāpi mānavāḥ | paurajānapadāmātyāḥ sa rājā rājasattamaḥ ||
ヴィヤーサは言った。天界に住まうようになっても、都の人々も郷里の人々も、また大臣たちも、その行状の記憶に頭を垂れる王—その王こそ諸王の中の最勝である。真の主権のしるしは単なる権力ではなく、死後なお敬意を集めるほど正しく人々を益する徳である。
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s true excellence lies in righteous conduct (vṛtta). When a ruler’s life benefits and protects society, his character earns enduring reverence—from citizens, rural subjects, and ministers—even after his death.
Vyāsa states a criterion for judging kings: the foremost ruler is the one whose conduct is so exemplary that people across the realm and the royal counselors continue to honor him even when he is ‘in heaven,’ i.e., after his passing.