Shloka 26
राजधर्मः—प्रजापालनं दानयज्ञश्च
Royal Duty—Protection of Subjects, Generosity, and Sacrificial Discipline
काले धुरि च युक्तानां वहतां भारमाहितम् । सीदतामपि कौन्तेय न कीर्तिरवसीदति
kāle dhuri ca yuktānāṁ vahatāṁ bhāram āhitam | sīdatām api kaunteya na kīrtir avasīdati ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—କୌନ୍ତେୟ, ଯେମାନେ ଯଥାସମୟରେ ଧୁରିରେ ନିଯୁକ୍ତ ହୋଇ ନିଜ ଉପରେ ଆରୋପିତ ଭାର ବହନ କରନ୍ତି, ସେମାନେ ଭାରରେ କ୍ଲାନ୍ତ ହେଇପାରନ୍ତି; କିନ୍ତୁ ସେମାନଙ୍କ କୀର୍ତ୍ତି କେବେ ଅବସାଦିତ ହୁଏ ନାହିଁ। ନ୍ୟାୟସଙ୍ଗତ ଦାୟିତ୍ୱ ସହି ବହନ କଲେ ଯଶ ଚିରସ୍ଥାୟୀ ହୁଏ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Rightly undertaken responsibility may cause hardship, but steadfastly bearing it preserves and increases one’s kīrti (enduring fame). Dharma-based effort yields lasting moral reputation even when the work is heavy.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and governance. Here he uses the image of being yoked to a burden to counsel that rulers and responsible persons should not shrink from assigned duties, because such endurance secures lasting renown.