Shloka 17
अज्ञान–लोभयोः परस्परहेतुत्वम्
Mutual Causality of Ignorance and Greed
यत्त्वेव राज्ञो ज्यायिष्ठं कार्याणां तद् ब्रवीमि ते
yattveva rājño jyāyiṣṭhaṃ kāryāṇāṃ tad bravīmi te | janasvara! tvaṃ dhairyayukta-bala-dānair svargalokam abhibhūya jayaṃ prāpnuhi | yasya balaṃ ca ojaś ca sa eva manuṣyo dharmācaraṇe samarthaḥ ||
Śaunaka disse: “Eu te direi o que é, de fato, o mais elevado entre os deveres de um rei. Ó senhor dos homens, por coragem firme, força e generosidade, conquista a vitória sobre o mundo celeste. Pois somente aquele que possui força e vigor vital (ojas) é capaz de uma prática sustentada do dharma.”
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the highest royal duty as cultivating and exercising steadfast courage, strength, and generosity, because effective dharma-practice requires inner vigor (ojas) and practical power (bala), not merely intention.
Śaunaka addresses a ruler (‘lord of men’) and begins outlining the foremost royal responsibilities, urging him to pursue merit and excellence through fortitude, strength, and charitable giving, presented as the basis for conquering even heavenly attainments.