Shloka 44
Pāṇḍu’s Marriages, Conquests, and Triumphal Return (पाण्डोर्विवाह-विजय-प्रत्यागमनम्)
अराजकेषु राष्ट्रेषु प्रजानाथा विनश्यति । नश्यन्ति च क्रिया: सर्वा नास्ति वृष्टिन देवता
arājakeṣu rāṣṭreṣu prajā nāthā vināśyati | naśyanti ca kriyāḥ sarvā nāsti vṛṣṭir na devatāḥ ||
Vyāsa berkata: “Dalam kerajaan yang tiada raja, rakyat menjadi tidak berketua lalu binasa. Segala upacara suci dan adat kemasyarakatan runtuh; tiada hujan turun, dan para dewa tidak bersemayam di sana.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate and dharmic governance is essential for the protection of the people and the maintenance of religious and social duties; without a king (i.e., without ordered rule), society deteriorates, rites cease, and prosperity symbolized by rain and divine favor disappears.
Vyāsa is explaining the consequences of a realm being without a ruler: the populace becomes unprotected, communal and sacrificial practices decline, and the land loses prosperity and divine presence—an admonition highlighting the necessity of stable kingship.