Shloka 13
राज्ञोऽभिषेकः, अराजकदोषः, दण्डधारणस्य आवश्यकता
Royal Consecration, the Fault of Kinglessness, and the Necessity of Enforcement
पालनात् सर्वभूतानां स्वराष्ट्रपरिपालनात् । दीक्षा बहुविधा राजन् सत्याश्रमपदं भवेत्
pālanāt sarvabhūtānāṁ svarāṣṭraparipālanāt | dīkṣā bahuvidhā rājan satyāśramapadaṁ bhavet ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ହେ ରାଜନ୍! ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରାଣୀଙ୍କ ପାଳନ ଓ ନିଜ ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରର ସୁରକ୍ଷା କରିବାରୁ ରାଜା ନାନା ପ୍ରକାର ଯଜ୍ଞ-ଦୀକ୍ଷା ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିଥିବା ସମାନ ପୁଣ୍ୟ ଲଭେ; ଏହି ଧର୍ମୟୁକ୍ତ ଶାସନଦ୍ୱାରା ସେ ସତ୍ୟାଶ୍ରମର—ସନ୍ନ୍ୟାସସଦୃଶ—ଫଳ ପାଏ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s primary dharma is protection—of all beings and of the realm. When governance is exercised as selfless guardianship, its merit equals that of many sacrificial consecrations and can yield a spiritual fruit comparable to renunciation.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma addresses the king and explains that righteous rule—especially protection and maintenance of order—functions as a high religious discipline, granting merit traditionally associated with ritual vows and even the renunciant ideal.