Shloka 24
मोक्षोपाय-निर्णयः
Determination of the Means to Liberation
राजानो लोकयात्रार्थ तप्यन्ते परमं तप: । तेडपत्रपन्ति तादृग्भ्यस्तथावृत्ता भवन्ति च
rājāno lokayātrārthaṁ tapyante paramaṁ tapaḥ | te ḍapatrapanti tādṛgbhyas tathāvṛttā bhavanti ca ||
हुमत्सेन म्हणाला—लोकांची जीवनयात्रा नीट चालावी म्हणून राजे परम तप करतात. आपल्या राज्यात चोर-दरोडेखोर असतील तर त्यांना लाज वाटते; म्हणून प्रजा शुद्ध, सदाचारी व सुखी व्हावी या इच्छेने ते अशा नियमबद्ध परिश्रमात प्रवृत्त होतात.
हुमत्सेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s true ‘tapas’ is disciplined governance for public welfare: maintaining social order (lokayātrā), preventing crime, and cultivating the moral and material well-being of the subjects. Shame at disorder becomes a moral spur toward responsible rule.
Humat-sena is explaining why rulers undertake severe discipline: not for personal display, but to ensure the smooth functioning of society. He frames effective law-and-order and the uplift of the people as a form of royal austerity.