Shloka 22
Akṣara–Kṣara Viveka: Vasiṣṭha–Karāla-Janaka Saṃvāda (अक्षर-क्षर विवेकः)
राज्ञा जेतव्या: शत्रवश्नोन्नताश्र सम्यक् कर्तव्यं पालनं च प्रजानाम् । अन्निश्वेयो बहुभिश्चापि यज्ञै- रन्त्ये मध्ये वा वनमाश्रित्य स्थेयम्
rājñā jetavyāḥ śatravaś cābhiyātāḥ samyak kartavyaṁ pālanaṁ ca prajānām | agniśreyo bahubhiś cāpi yajñair antye madhye vā vanam āśritya stheyam, nareśvara ||
ପରାଶର କହିଲେ— ନରେଶ୍ୱର, ରାଜା ଉଦ୍ଧତ ହୋଇ ଉଠିଥିବା ଶତ୍ରୁମାନଙ୍କୁ ଜୟ କରିବା ଉଚିତ; ନ୍ୟାୟପୂର୍ବକ ପ୍ରଜାପାଳନ କରିବା ଉଚିତ; ବହୁ ଯଜ୍ଞ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଅଗ୍ନିଦେବଙ୍କୁ ସନ୍ତୁଷ୍ଟ କରିବା ଉଚିତ; ଏବଂ ବୈରାଗ୍ୟ ଜାଗିଲେ—ମଧ୍ୟବୟସରେ କିମ୍ବା ଜୀବନର ଶେଷରେ—ବନକୁ ଆଶ୍ରୟ କରି ସେଠାରେ ରହିବା ଉଚିତ।
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse outlines a balanced royal ethic: a king must restrain aggressive enemies, govern and protect the people justly, sustain the sacrificial order by honoring Agni through yajñas, and—when detachment arises—transition from rulership to forest-dwelling (vanaprastha/renunciatory withdrawal), whether in midlife or at life’s end.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Parāśara speaks as a teacher, summarizing key duties of kingship (security and just administration) alongside the Vedic-ritual obligation, and then points to the life-stage ideal of retiring to the forest when vairāgya matures.