Mahabharata 4.4.46 — Virata Parva, Adhyaya 4, Shloka 46
Dhaumya’s Counsel on Incognito Conduct in a Royal Household (राजवसतौ आचरण-निति)
आन्तरे चैव बाहों च राज्ञा यश्चाथ सर्वदा । आदिट्टो नैव कम्पेत स राजवसतिं वसेत्
āntare caiva bāhoś ca rājñā yaścātha sarvadā | ādiṣṭo naiva kampeta sa rājavasatiṁ vaset ||
Dhaumya berkata: “Hanya orang yang, apabila diperintah raja menjalankan tugas dalam (menjaga harta dan ruang wanita) dan tugas luar (menewaskan musuh serta meraih kemenangan), tidak pernah goyah—bukan kerana ragu, bukan kerana takut—layak tinggal di lingkungan raja.”
धौग्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A fit servant of the king is one who can be entrusted with both inner (household security, protection of wealth and women) and outer (public defense, victory over enemies) responsibilities, and who does not falter when ordered—steadfastness and fearlessness are presented as essential qualities of royal service.
Dhaumya lays down a criterion for who may live and serve within the royal establishment: the person must be reliable under command in both palace and battlefield contexts, showing no trembling from doubt or fear.
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