Shloka 8
राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः
Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures
अमित तेजस्वी कोसलनरेशके इस प्रकार प्रश्न करनेपर महाज्ञानी बृहस्पतिजीने शान्तभावसे राजाके सत्कारकी आवश्यकता बताते हुए इस प्रकार उत्तर देना आरम्भ किया ।।
bṛhaspatir uvāca | rāja-mūlo mahāprājña dharmo lokasya lakṣyate | prajā rāja-bhayād eva na khādanti parasparam ||
Bṛhaspati disse: “Ó grande sábio em política! O dharma que se vê operar no mundo tem o rei como sua própria raiz. É somente por temor ao rei que as pessoas não se devoram umas às outras.”
वसुमना उवाच
Educational Q&A
Public morality and social order (dharma as actually practiced in society) depend upon effective kingship: the king’s authority and capacity to punish restrain mutual predation and protect the weak from the strong.
In response to a king’s inquiry, Bṛhaspati begins his counsel on statecraft and the need to honor and uphold royal authority, explaining that the visible functioning of dharma in society is rooted in the king’s power to deter wrongdoing.