Shloka 4
राजधर्मस्य नवनीतम्—रक्षा, दण्ड, चार, उत्थान
Rājadharma’s ‘Essence’: Protection, Punishment, Intelligence, and Royal Diligence
रक्षामेव प्रशंसन्ति धर्म धर्मभूतां वर । राज्ञां राजीवताम्राक्ष साधन चात्र मे शृणु
bhīṣma uvāca | rakṣām eva praśaṃsanti dharmaṃ dharmabhūtāṃ vara | rājñāṃ rājīvatāmrākṣa sādhanaṃ cātra me śṛṇu ||
ビーシュマは言った。「義ある者の中の最勝者よ、彼らが何より讃えるのは“護り”のダルマである――王の務めにして、それ自体がダルマの一形態なのだ。蓮華の眼をもつ者よ、いまその護りの務めを成し遂げる手段を語る。聞け。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The king’s foremost dharma is rakṣā—protecting and sustaining the people. This protective function is not merely administrative; it is presented as intrinsically righteous (dharmabhūtā) and therefore the central ethical measure of rulership.
In the Shanti Parva dialogue, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on rajadharma. Here he transitions into explaining the practical means (sādhana) of the protective duty of kings, urging Yudhishthira to listen.