Shloka 123
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
उनके राज्यमें किसीको बुढ़ापा, दुर्भिक्ष तथा आधि-व्याधिका कष्ट नहीं था। राजाकी ओरसे रक्षाकी समुचित व्यवस्था होनेके कारण वहाँ कभी किसीको सर्पों, चोरों तथा आपसके लोगोंसे भय नहीं प्राप्त होता था ।।
āpasta-stambhire cāsya samudram abhiyāsyataḥ | parvatāś ca dadur mārgaṁ dhvaja-bhaṅgaś ca nābhavat ||
ビーシュマは語った。「彼の治める国では、老いの苦しみも、飢饉も、心身の病も、誰一人として受けなかった。王が相応の守りを整えていたゆえに、そこでは蛇や盗賊、あるいは共同体の内に潜む敵意ある者を恐れて暮らす者もいなかった。さらに彼が海上を行くとき、海の水は静まり、山々は道を譲り、戦車の旗は決して折れなかった—それは、法（ダルマ）にかなった正しく整然たる統治のしるしであり、自然さえもそれに呼応したのである。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents the ideal of rājadharma: a king’s foremost duty is effective protection and just governance, resulting in freedom from fear, social stability, and public well-being; such righteousness is portrayed as so potent that it brings harmony even in the natural world.
Bhīṣma is describing a model ruler whose kingdom is free from common calamities and dangers. He then adds hyperbolic-epic signs of that ruler’s extraordinary fortune and merit: the sea calms as he travels, mountains open a route, and his chariot’s banner never breaks.