Shloka 4
राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)
त्रिवर्गों हि समासक्तो राजधर्मेषु कौरव । मोक्षधर्मश्ष विस्पष्ट: सकलो<त्र समाहित:
trivargo hi samāsakto rājadharmeṣu kaurava | mokṣadharmaś ca vispaṣṭaḥ sakalo ’tra samāhitaḥ ||
ಯುಧಿಷ್ಠಿರನು ಹೇಳಿದನು— ಹೇ ಕೌರವ! ರಾಜಧರ್ಮಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಧರ್ಮ, ಅರ್ಥ, ಕಾಮ ಎಂಬ ತ್ರಿವರ್ಗವೂ ಪರಸ್ಪರ ಬಂಧಿತವಾಗಿ ಕ್ರಿಯಾಶೀಲವಾಗಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಮೋಕ್ಷಧರ್ಮವೂ ಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ಇಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ರಾಜಧರ್ಮದಲ್ಲೇ ಸಮಾಹಿತವಾಗಿದೆ ಎಂಬುದು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟ.
युधिषछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Rāja-dharma is not merely political technique; it integrates the full spectrum of human aims (dharma, artha, kāma) and can also encompass the principles that lead toward mokṣa. Ethical governance is presented as a comprehensive discipline with spiritual depth.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance and ethics, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a Kuru elder/kinsman and frames the discussion: the science of kingship contains within it both worldly responsibilities and the broader moral-spiritual teachings, including those oriented to liberation.