Shloka 28
देवतापितृप्रश्नः — Nārada at Badarīāśrama: the ultimate referent of daiva and pitṛ worship
राजा सदा धर्मपर: शुभाशुभस्य गोप्ता समीक्ष्य सुकृतिनां दधाति लोकान् | बहुविधमपि चरति प्रविशति सुखमनुपगतं निरवद्यम्
vyāsa uvāca | rājā sadā dharmaparaḥ śubhāśubhasya goptā samīkṣya sukṛtināṃ dadhāti lokān | bahuvidham api carati praviśati sukham anupagataṃ niravadyam |
Vyāsa disse: “Um rei sempre devotado ao dharma—que, após o devido exame, protege seus súditos no que diz respeito ao bem e ao mal—assegura os mundos (loka) alcançados pelos justos. E, se ele próprio pratica também muitos tipos de obras auspiciosas, como fruto delas entra numa felicidade antes não alcançada e livre de falha.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s highest duty is steadfast commitment to dharma: carefully discerning right and wrong in public matters, protecting subjects accordingly, and personally practicing auspicious conduct. Such governance yields both merit (access to the realms of the righteous) and a blameless, elevated happiness.
In the didactic setting of Śānti Parva, Vyāsa states a principle of rājadharma: the king who governs with moral discernment and protection, and who also performs virtuous deeds himself, attains the righteous worlds and an untainted happiness as the fruit of his conduct.