राजधर्मः, दण्डनीतिः, कर्तृत्व-विचारः च
Royal Duty, Lawful Discipline, and the Question of Agency
अनुतिष्ठस्व तद् राजन् पितृपैतामहं पदम् । ब्राह्मणेषु तपो धर्म: स नित्यो वेदनिश्चितः
anutiṣṭhasva tad rājan pitr̥paitāmahaṁ padam | brāhmaṇeṣu tapo dharmaḥ sa nityo vedaniścitaḥ ||
Vyāsa disse: “Portanto, ó rei, assume e segue com firmeza o caminho ancestral da realeza, transmitido por teu pai e teus antepassados. Para os brâmanes, a austeridade é o dever ordenado—sempre constante—como o próprio Veda determinou.”
व्यास उवाच
Each social role has its own dharma: a king should uphold inherited kingship responsibly (rājadharma), while Brahmins are enjoined to maintain tapas as a constant duty, grounded in Vedic authority.
Vyāsa addresses a king and urges him to accept and perform the traditional responsibilities of rulership, while clarifying that austerity is primarily the enduring duty of Brahmins, as affirmed by the Veda.