Shloka 31
धर्मेण राज्यं विन्देत धर्मेण परिपालयेत् । धर्ममूलां श्रियं प्राप्प न जहाति न हीयते,धर्मसे ही राज्य प्राप्त करे और धर्मसे ही उसकी रक्षा करे; क्योंकि धर्ममूलक राज्यलक्ष्मीको पाकर न तो राजा उसे छोड़ता है और न वही राजाको छोड़ती है
dharmeṇa rājyaṃ vindeta dharmeṇa paripālayet | dharmamūlāṃ śriyaṃ prāpya na jahāti na hīyate ||
Vidura ensina que um rei deve alcançar a soberania pela retidão (dharma) e preservá-la pela retidão. Pois, quando a prosperidade e a fortuna régia estão enraizadas no dharma, o governante não as abandona nem é por elas abandonado; o poder firmado na justiça perdura, ao passo que o poder obtido de outro modo é instável.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate rule must be both acquired and maintained through dharma. Prosperity that rests on righteousness remains steady; it neither deserts the ruler nor is discarded by him, implying that moral foundations are the true source of political stability.
In the Udyoga Parva’s counsel-filled setting before the great war, Vidura addresses the Kuru court and advises the ruler on rajadharma—how to gain and preserve sovereignty—warning implicitly against power sought through adharma, which leads to loss and ruin.