Shloka 22
उतथ्योपदेशः—राजधर्मः, दर्पनिग्रहः, प्रजारक्षणम्
Utathya’s Instruction: Royal Dharma, Restraint of Pride, Protection of Subjects
धर्मस्य ब्राह्मणो योनिस्तस्मात् तान् पूजयेत् सदा । ब्राह्मणानां च मान्धात: कुर्यात् कामानमत्सरी
dharmasya brāhmaṇo yonis tasmāt tān pūjayet sadā | brāhmaṇānāṁ ca māndhātaḥ kuryāt kāmān amatsarī ||
ਉਤਥ੍ਯ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ— ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣ ਧਰਮ ਦਾ ਮੂਲ ਅਤੇ ਗਰਭ ਹੈ; ਇਸ ਲਈ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਪੂਜਨ-ਸਨਮਾਨ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ। ਹੇ ਮਾਂਧਾਤਾ! ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਇੱਛਾਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਈਰਖਾ ਤੋਂ ਰਹਿਤ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਪੂਰਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਉਚਿਤ ਹੈ।
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is upheld through reverence for those who preserve sacred knowledge and ethical norms; a ruler should honor Brāhmaṇas consistently and meet their rightful requests without envy or competitiveness.
In a didactic exchange within Śānti Parva, the sage Utathya instructs King Māndhātṛ on righteous kingship, emphasizing the king’s duty to respect Brāhmaṇas and support them generously and without jealousy.