Shloka 2
Vāmadeva’s Counsel on Rooted Kingship and Non-violent Victory (वामदेवोपदेशः—दृढमूलराजधर्मः)
न चाप्यलब्धं लिप्सेत मूले नातिदृढे सति | न हि दुर्बलमूलस्य राज्ञो लाभो विधीयते
na cāpy alabdhaṃ lipseta mūle nātidṛḍhe sati | na hi durbalamūlasya rājño lābho vidhīyate ||
राज्याचा पाया अत्यंत दृढ नसताना राजाने अजून न मिळालेल्या गोष्टीची लालसा करू नये—उदा. नवे प्रदेश जिंकण्याची इच्छा. कारण ज्याचा मूलाधार दुर्बल आहे, त्या राजाला असा लाभ साध्य होत नाही.
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should first strengthen the kingdom’s foundations—administration, resources, alliances, internal stability—before desiring further acquisitions. Without a firm base, ambitions for expansion will not yield real success.
In the Śānti Parva’s rājadharma instruction, the sage Vāmadeva addresses a king with counsel on governance, warning against pursuing new gains when the state’s root strength is inadequate.