Shloka 27
Vāmadeva’s Rājadharma: Norm-Setting, Counsel, and the Prevention of Rāṣṭra-Vināśa (वामदेव-प्रोक्तं राजधर्मम्)
दातारं संविभक्तारं मार्दवोपगतं शुचिम् | असंत्यक्तमनुष्यं च तं जना: कुर्वते नृपम्
dātāraṃ saṃvibhaktāraṃ mārdavopagataṃ śucim | asaṃtyaktamanuṣyaṃ ca taṃ janāḥ kurvate nṛpam ||
Люди избирают царём того, кто щедр, кто справедливо и должным образом распределяет необходимое между всеми, кто кроток нравом, чист в поступках и помыслах и не оставляет своих людей. Эти добродетели, а не одна лишь сила, названы нравственным основанием законной царской власти.
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate kingship rests on ethical qualities: generosity, fair distribution of resources, gentleness, purity of conduct, and steadfast care for one’s people. A ruler is ‘made’ by public recognition of these virtues, not merely by force or birth.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Vāmadeva states the criteria by which people accept someone as king: he must give, distribute justly, be mild and pure, and never abandon his subjects.