Shloka 23
राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः
Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures
न वृषा: सम्प्रवर्तेरन् न मथ्येरंश्व॒ गर्गरा: । घोषा: प्रणाशं गच्छेयुर्यदि राजा न पालयेत्,यदि राजा पशुओंका पालन न करे तो साँड़ गायोंमें गर्भाधान न करें, दूध-दहीसे भरे हुए घड़े या मटके कभी महे न जायूँ और गोशाले नष्ट हो जायेँ
na vṛṣāḥ sampravarteran na mathyeran śva-gargarāḥ | ghoṣāḥ praṇāśaṃ gaccheyur yadi rājā na pālayet ||
ວະສຸມານາ ກ່າວວ່າ: «ຖ້າກະສັດບໍ່ປົກປ້ອງ (ອານາຈັກ ແລະ ສັດສິນ) ງົວພໍ່ພັນຈະບໍ່ເລີ່ມຜະລິດພັນ; ໝໍ້ນົມ ແລະ ເຄື່ອງປັ່ນນົມຈະບໍ່ຖືກໃຊ້ຢ່າງຖືກຕ້ອງ; ແລະ ຖິ່ນຖານຂອງຄົນເລີ້ຍງງົວຈະພັງພິນາດ»។
वसुमना उवाच
Educational Q&A
The king’s primary dharma is protection (pālana). When governance fails, even basic rural and pastoral functions—breeding, dairy production, and the stability of cowherd communities—collapse, showing that ethical rule sustains material and social well-being.
Vasumanā is illustrating the practical consequences of a ruler’s neglect: disorder spreads through the countryside, productive routines cease, and pastoral settlements (ghoṣas) are destroyed—an argument for vigilant, protective kingship in the Shānti Parva’s rājadharma discourse.