Shloka 54
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
अप्रमादश्न शौचं च राज्ञों भूतिकरं महत् | एतेभ्यश्वैव मान्धात: सततं मा प्रमादिथा:
apramādaś ca śaucaṁ ca rājño bhūtikaraṁ mahat | etebhyaś caiva māndhātaḥ satataṁ mā pramādithāḥ ||
Utathya disse: “A vigilância e a pureza trazem grande benefício a um rei, concedendo prosperidade e bem-estar. Portanto, ó Māndhātṛ, jamais sejas negligente quanto a isso, em tempo algum.”
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s prosperity and stability depend on two foundational disciplines: apramāda (constant vigilance and responsibility) and śauca (purity/cleanliness in conduct and administration). Negligence in either undermines governance and welfare.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, the sage Utathya addresses King Māndhātṛ, giving concise counsel that a ruler must continually maintain vigilance and purity, and must never lapse into heedlessness.