Shloka 15
Draupadī’s Exhortation on Rājadharma and Daṇḍa (द्रौपद्याः राजधर्मोपदेशः)
मित्रता सर्वभूतेषु दानमध्ययनं तप: । ब्राह्मणस्यैव धर्म: स्यान्न राज्ञो राजसत्तम,नृपश्रेष्ठ! समस्त प्राणियोंके प्रति मैत्रीभाव, दान लेना, देना, अध्ययन और तपस्या-- यह ब्राह्मणका ही धर्म है, राजाका नहीं
mitratā sarvabhūteṣu dānam adhyayanaṃ tapaḥ | brāhmaṇasyaiva dharmaḥ syān na rājño rājasattama nṛpaśreṣṭha ||
ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ— ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରାଣୀଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ମୈତ୍ରୀଭାବ, ଦାନ (ଦେବା-ନେବା), ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରାଧ୍ୟୟନ ଓ ତପସ୍ୟା—ଏହି ଧର୍ମ କେବଳ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣଙ୍କର; ରାଜାଙ୍କର ନୁହେଁ, ହେ ରାଜଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse distinguishes role-based dharma: virtues like universal friendliness, gift-practice, scriptural study, and austerity are presented as primarily brāhmaṇa-duties, while a king’s dharma is implied to be different (centered on governance, protection, and enforcement of order).
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma after the war, Vaiśampāyana reports a teaching addressed to a king, clarifying that certain ascetic and scholastic practices are not the king’s primary obligations but belong to the brāhmaṇa’s sphere.