Shloka 28
राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः
Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures
हस्ताद्धस्तं परिमुषेद् भिद्येरन् सर्वसेतव: । भयार्त॑ विद्रवेत् सर्व यदि राजा न पालयेत्
hastād hastaṁ parimuṣed bhidyeran sarva-setavaḥ | bhayārtā vidravet sarve yadi rājā na pālayet ||
Vasumanā berkata: Jika raja tidak melindungi (rakyat dan tertib sosial), maka pencuri akan meragut bahkan barang yang sedang berada di tangan; segala batas dan norma akan hancur; dan semua orang, dihimpit ketakutan, akan lari bertempiaran ke segala arah. Rangkap ini menegaskan bahawa perlindungan diraja bukan sekadar kuasa, tetapi kewajipan moral yang memelihara keselamatan awam dan jalinan dharma.
वसुमना उवाच
Educational Q&A
The king’s primary dharma is protection (pālana). Without just governance and enforcement of order, society collapses into theft, fear, and the breakdown of moral and legal boundaries (setu).
Vasumanā is explaining the consequences of a ruler failing to protect: criminals become bold enough to snatch possessions openly, social restraints dissolve, and the populace—overwhelmed by fear—scatters and lives in insecurity.