Shloka 22
राजधर्मः—प्रजापालनं दानयज्ञश्च
Royal Duty—Protection of Subjects, Generosity, and Sacrificial Discipline
न होतामाशिषं पाण्डुर्न च कुन्ती त्वयाचत । तथैतत् प्रज्ञया तात यथा55चरसि मेधया
na hotām āśiṣaṁ pāṇḍur na ca kuntī tvayācat | tathaitat prajñayā tāta yathā carasi medhayā ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Pāṇḍu tidak pernah memohon berkat daripadamu, dan Kuntī juga tidak pernah memintanya daripadamu. Namun begitu, wahai anak yang dikasihi, dalam hal ini engkau bertindak dengan kebijaksanaan dan pertimbangan yang begitu tajam sehingga selaras dengan kebaikan yang tertinggi.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Right conduct should rest on wisdom and discernment rather than on entitlement or prior claims; even without being asked for a boon, one may act in a way that aligns with dharma and the greater good.
In the instruction-setting of Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma addresses his listener and notes that neither Pāṇḍu nor Kuntī requested a blessing from that person, yet the person’s present behavior shows mature judgment and intelligence, which Bhīṣma commends.