Shloka 67
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
श्रूयते शम्बुके शूद्रे हते ब्राह्मणदारक: । जीवितो धर्ममासाद्य रामात् सत्यपराक्रमात्
śrūyate śambuke śūdre hate brāhmaṇadārakaḥ | jīvito dharmam āsādya rāmāt satyaparākramāt ||
ശംബൂക എന്ന ശൂദ്രൻ വധിക്കപ്പെട്ടപ്പോൾ, സത്യപരാക്രമനായ രാമനാൽ ധർമ്മാശ്രയം പ്രാപിച്ച് ഒരു ബ്രാഹ്മണ ബാലൻ വീണ്ടും ജീവിച്ചു എന്നു കേൾക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.
जम्बुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse appeals to received tradition to argue that a ruler’s upholding of dharma is believed to sustain the world’s order: when dharma is enforced (as exemplified by Rāma), misfortune is removed and wellbeing—even life—can be restored.
Jambuka cites a well-known itihāsa report: after Śambūka, identified as a Śūdra, was killed, a Brahmin child who had died was said to return to life through Rāma’s truth-grounded valor. The example functions as a precedent in a discussion on governance and dharma.