Shloka 30
Vāmadeva’s Rājadharma: Norm-Setting, Counsel, and the Prevention of Rāṣṭra-Vināśa (वामदेव-प्रोक्तं राजधर्मम्)
अग्राम्यचरितां वृत्ति यो न सेवेत नित्यदा | जितानामजितानां च क्षत्रधर्मादपैति सः
agrāmyacaritāṁ vṛttiṁ yo na seveta nityadā | jitānām ajitānāṁ ca kṣatradharmād apaiti saḥ ||
ଯେ ସଦା ଶିଷ୍ଟମାନେ ଆଚରଣ କରୁଥିବା ଅଶ୍ଳୀଳତା-ରହିତ (ଅଗ୍ରାମ୍ୟ) ବୃତ୍ତିକୁ ଅନୁସରଣ କରେନାହିଁ, ଏବଂ ଜିତା ଓ ଅଜିତ—ଦୁହେଁକୁ ତାଙ୍କର ପରମ୍ପରାଗତ ଆଚାର ପାଳନ କରିବାକୁ ଦିଏନାହିଁ—ସେ କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟଧର୍ମରୁ ଚ୍ୟୁତ ହୁଏ।
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
A kṣatriya’s dharma depends on disciplined, cultured conduct and on maintaining rightful norms in society; abandoning refined behavior and disrupting established codes—whether for the defeated or the undefeated—constitutes a fall from kṣatriya-duty.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, the sage Vāmadeva lays down a criterion for true kṣatriya conduct: constant adherence to dignified behavior and the upholding of proper customary discipline for all parties, not only for one’s own side.