राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः
Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures
एवमेव विना राज्ञा विनश्येयुरिमा: प्रजा: । अन्धे तमसि मज्जेयुरगोपा: पशवो यथा
evam eva vinā rājñā vinaśyeyur imāḥ prajāḥ | andhe tamasi majjeyur agopāḥ paśavo yathā ||
Vasumanā disse: “Do mesmo modo, sem rei, estes súditos pereceriam. Como gado sem pastor, afundariam numa escuridão cega.”
वसुमना उवाच
That the king’s dharmic role is protection and order; without governance, people fall into chaos and suffering, like cattle without a herdsman.
Vasumanā is arguing within the Shānti Parva’s discussion of rājadharma, using a vivid simile to warn that the absence of a ruler leads to the ruin of the populace.