Shloka 22
राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः
Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures
न यज्ञा: सम्प्रवर्तेयुविधिवत् स्वाप्तदक्षिणा: । न विवाहा: समाजो वा यदि राजा न पालयेत्
na yajñāḥ sampravarteyuḥ vidhivat svāptadakṣiṇāḥ | na vivāhāḥ samājo vā yadi rājā na pālayet ||
Vasumanā berkata: “Jika raja tidak melindungi dan memerintah, maka yajña yang dilakukan menurut aturan serta disertai dakṣiṇā yang wajar akan terhenti; perkahwinan tidak akan berlangsung; dan kehidupan masyarakat yang tersusun rapi akan terhenti.”
वसुमना उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the king’s protective governance is foundational to dharma in practice: only under stable rule can properly conducted sacrifices with due priestly fees, lawful marriages, and the functioning of social institutions continue.
In the Shanti Parva’s discussion of राजधर्म (the duties of kings), Vasumanā argues for the necessity of kingship by pointing out the social breakdown that follows when a ruler fails to protect—ritual life, family formation, and civic order all collapse.