Shloka 22
Akṣara–Kṣara Viveka: Vasiṣṭha–Karāla-Janaka Saṃvāda (अक्षर-क्षर विवेकः)
राज्ञा जेतव्या: शत्रवश्नोन्नताश्र सम्यक् कर्तव्यं पालनं च प्रजानाम् । अन्निश्वेयो बहुभिश्चापि यज्ञै- रन्त्ये मध्ये वा वनमाश्रित्य स्थेयम्,नरेश्वर! राजाको चाहिये कि वह बढ़े हुए शत्रुओंको जीते। प्रजाका न्यायपूर्वक पालन करे। नाना प्रकारके यज्ञोंद्वारा अग्निदेवको तृप्त करे तथा वैराग्य होनेपर मध्यम अवस्थामें अथवा अन्तिम अवस्थामें वनमें जाकर रहे
rājñā jetavyāḥ śatravaś cābhiyātāḥ samyak kartavyaṁ pālanaṁ ca prajānām | agniśreyo bahubhiś cāpi yajñair antye madhye vā vanam āśritya stheyam, nareśvara ||
パラーシャラは言った。「人々の主よ、王は驕り高く攻め立てる敵を討ち従え、臣民を正しく、公平に、秩序をもって守護せねばならぬ。また多くの祭祀（ヤジュニャ）によってアグニ（火神）を敬い奉るべきである。そして離欲が起こるとき——それが壮年であれ、命の終わりであれ——王は林へ退き、そこで住まうがよい。」
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse outlines a balanced royal ethic: a king must restrain aggressive enemies, govern and protect the people justly, sustain the sacrificial order by honoring Agni through yajñas, and—when detachment arises—transition from rulership to forest-dwelling (vanaprastha/renunciatory withdrawal), whether in midlife or at life’s end.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Parāśara speaks as a teacher, summarizing key duties of kingship (security and just administration) alongside the Vedic-ritual obligation, and then points to the life-stage ideal of retiring to the forest when vairāgya matures.