Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
दत्त्वाभयं स्वयं राजा प्रमाणं कुरुते यदि । स सर्वसुखकृज्ज्ञेय: प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन्
dattvābhayaṁ svayaṁ rājā pramāṇaṁ kurute yadi | sa sarvasukhakṛj jñeyaḥ prajā dharmeṇa pālayan ||
राजा स्वतः अभयदान देऊन आपलेच आचरण प्रमाण मानतो आणि धर्माने प्रजेचे पालन करतो, तर तो सर्वांच्या सुखाचा कर्ता म्हणून ओळखला जातो.
ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच
A ruler’s legitimacy rests on granting security and embodying dharma personally; when the king’s own conduct becomes the standard and he protects the people righteously, he becomes a source of welfare for all.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on royal duty (rājadharma), Brahmadatta states a criterion for ideal kingship: the king must first assure fearlessness to the populace and then govern as a living example of dharma while protecting his subjects.