Shloka 54
राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः
Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures
राजा भोजो विराट सम्राट क्षत्रियो भूपतिर्नप: । य एश्रि: स्तूयते शब्दै: कस्तं नार्चितुमहति
rājā bhojo virāṭ samrāṭ kṣatriyo bhūpatir nṛpaḥ | ya eṣaḥ śrīḥ stūyate śabdaiḥ kas taṃ nārcitum arhati ||
Vasumanā berkata: “Raja, Bhoja, Virāṭ, maharaja sejagat, Kṣatriya, tuan bumi, pemerintah—dengan kata-kata inilah suatu keagungan dipuji. Maka siapakah yang tidak menganggap wajar untuk menghormati raja pelindung rakyat itu?”
वसुमना उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical logic of honoring rightful kingship: when a ruler is praised with titles that imply protection, sovereignty, and public responsibility, it is considered proper to show reverence to that guardian of the people—linking social honor to the king’s dharmic function.
Vasumanā is speaking within the Shānti Parva’s discussions on conduct and governance, pointing to the cultural practice of praising a ruler with exalted epithets and arguing that such a publicly acknowledged protector naturally merits honor and worshipful respect.