Shloka 29
Vāmadeva’s Rājadharma: Norm-Setting, Counsel, and the Prevention of Rāṣṭra-Vināśa (वामदेव-प्रोक्तं राजधर्मम्)
यो<र्थकामस्य वचन प्रातिकूल्यान्न मृष्यते । शृणोति प्रतिकूलानि सर्वदा विमना इव
yo 'rthakāmasya vacanaṃ prātikūlyān na mṛṣyate | śṛṇoti pratikūlāni sarvadā vimanā iva | yaḥ śiṣṭaiḥ puruṣair ācaraṇe nītam ācāraṃ sadā na sevate tathā parājitān aparājitāṃś ca sva-paramparāgatam ācāraṃ na pālayituṃ dadāti sa kṣatriya-dharmāt patati |
ମନକୁ ପ୍ରତିକୂଳ ଲାଗୁଥିବାରୁ ନିଜ ହିତ ସାଧନ ଚାହୁଁଥିବା ସୁହୃଦର କଥା ସହିପାରେନାହିଁ, କିନ୍ତୁ ନିଜ ଅର୍ଥସିଦ୍ଧିର ବିରୋଧୀ ବଚନ ଶୁଣିଚାଲେ—ସେ ସଦା ବିମନା ଓ ଅସ୍ଥିର ରହେ।
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must be able to accept corrective counsel from true well-wishers, consistently follow the exemplary conduct of the cultured, and uphold traditional codes of behavior for all—victors and vanquished alike. Rejecting good advice and undermining established ācāra leads to a fall from kṣatriya-dharma.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous governance and conduct, Vāmadeva describes traits that disqualify a kṣatriya: intolerance toward a friend’s beneficial advice, mental instability born of self-will, neglect of śiṣṭa-ācāra, and refusal to let people maintain their customary duties and traditions regardless of victory or defeat.