Shloka 5
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
विषमस्थं हि राजानं शत्रव: परिपन्थिन: । बहवोडप्येकमुद्धर्तु यतन्ते पूर्वतापिता:
viṣamasthaṃ hi rājānaṃ śatravaḥ paripanthinaḥ | bahavo 'py ekam uddhartuṃ yatante pūrvatāpitāḥ ||
युधिष्ठिर म्हणाला— “दरोडेखोर इत्यादी शत्रू राजाला संकटात पडलेला पाहतात, तेव्हा—विशेषतः ज्यांना त्याने पूर्वी शिक्षा दिली आहे—अनेक जण एकत्र येऊन त्या एकाकी, असहाय नरेशाला उखडून टाकण्याचा प्रयत्न करतात.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s vulnerability invites coordinated aggression: when authority is weakened, hostile forces—especially those previously restrained—quickly unite to overthrow order. The verse underscores the ethical and practical need for stable governance and preparedness.
In the Śānti Parva’s discussion of rājadharma, Yudhiṣṭhira observes that enemies and bandits watch for a king’s misfortune; seeing him in crisis, they band together to depose him, particularly those who had earlier suffered punishment under his rule.