Shloka 36
राजधर्मः—राष्ट्ररक्षणं, दण्डनीतिः, हयग्रीवोपाख्यानम्
Royal Duty: Protection, Penal Policy, and the Hayagrīva Exemplum
यस्य वृत्तं नमस्यन्ति स्वर्गस्थस्यापि मानवा: । पौरजानपदामात्या: स राजा राजसत्तम:,स्वर्गलोकमें रहनेपर भी जिसके चरित्रको नगर और जनपदके मनुष्य एवं मन्त्री मस्तक झुकाते हैं, वही राजा समस्त नरपतियोंमें सबसे श्रेष्ठ है
yasya vṛttaṃ namasyanti svargasthasyāpi mānavāḥ | paurajānapadāmātyāḥ sa rājā rājasattamaḥ ||
Vyāsa berkata: Walaupun telah bersemayam di syurga, jika penduduk kota dan desa, bersama para menteri, tetap menundukkan kepala kepada ingatan akan budi pekertinya—maka raja itulah yang terbaik antara para penguasa. Tanda kedaulatan sejati bukan sekadar kuasa, melainkan akhlak yang benar dan membawa manfaat sehingga dihormati bahkan selepas wafat.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s true excellence lies in righteous conduct (vṛtta). When a ruler’s life benefits and protects society, his character earns enduring reverence—from citizens, rural subjects, and ministers—even after his death.
Vyāsa states a criterion for judging kings: the foremost ruler is the one whose conduct is so exemplary that people across the realm and the royal counselors continue to honor him even when he is ‘in heaven,’ i.e., after his passing.