Shloka 64
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
राज्ञा सप्तैव रक्ष्याणि तानि चैव निबोध मे । आत्मामात्याश्न कोशाशक्ष दण्डो मित्राणि चैव हि,कुरुनन्दन! राजाको उचित है कि सात वस्तुओंकी अवश्य रक्षा करे। वे सात कौन हैं? यह मुझसे सुनो। राजाका अपना शरीर, मन्त्री, कोश, दण्ड (सेना), मित्र, राष्ट्र और नगर-- से राज्यके सात अड़् हैं, राजाकों इन सबका प्रयत्नपूर्वक पालन करना चाहिये
rājñā saptaiva rakṣyāṇi tāni caiva nibodha me | ātmāmātyāś ca kośaś ca daṇḍo mitrāṇi caiva hi, kurunandana ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Um rei deve salvaguardar sete coisas—ouve-as de mim, ó alegria dos Kurus. São: a sua própria pessoa, os seus ministros, o tesouro, o daṇḍa—o bastão da punição (o poder coercivo/o exército)—e os seus aliados (amigos).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma includes vigilant protection of the essential supports of sovereignty—starting with personal integrity and security, competent ministers, sound finances, effective enforcement/punitive power, and reliable alliances—so that order and welfare can be sustained.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma addresses Yudhiṣṭhira and begins listing the key elements a king must guard as part of rajadharma, framing governance as a disciplined, ethical responsibility.