Shloka 24
एष वृद्धाननाथांश्व पड्गूनन्धांश्व मानवान् । पुत्रवत् पालयामास प्रजा धर्मेण वै विभु:
eṣa vṛddhān anāthāṁś ca paṅgūn andhāṁś ca mānavān | putravat pālayāmāsa prajā dharmeṇa vai vibhuḥ ||
Esse soberano poderoso protegia até os idosos, os desamparados, os coxos e os cegos entre o seu povo. Sustentando o dharma, cuidava dos súditos com a mesma solicitude com que se guarda e se nutre os próprios filhos—um ideal de realeza alicerçado na compaixão e no dever justo.
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ideal of rajadharma: a ruler’s duty is to protect all subjects—especially the vulnerable (elderly, helpless, disabled)—with parental care, and to govern in accordance with dharma rather than self-interest.
Arjuna describes the conduct of a powerful ruler, emphasizing that he maintained and safeguarded his people righteously, extending special care even to those who are socially and physically vulnerable.