Shloka 15
अध्याय ५७ — राज्ञः नित्यप्रयत्नः, रक्षा-प्रधानता, तथा त्याग-नीतिः
Chapter 57: Constant Royal Vigilance, Primacy of Protection, and Principles of Dismissal
चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य धर्माश्च रक्षितव्या महीक्षिता | धर्मसंकररक्षा च राज्ञां धर्म: सनातन:,राजाको चारों वर्णोंके धर्मोकी रक्षा करनी चाहिये, प्रजाको धर्मसंकरतासे बचाना राजाओंका सनातन धर्म है
cāturvarṇyasya dharmāś ca rakṣitavyā mahīkṣitā | dharmasaṅkararakṣā ca rājñāṃ dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ ||
चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य धर्माश्च रक्षितव्या महीक्षिता । धर्मसंकररक्षा च राज्ञां धर्मः सनातनः ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s perennial duty is to uphold dharma by protecting the rightful duties of the four varṇas and preventing dharma-saṅkara—social and ethical disorder arising from confusion of roles and obligations.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhīṣma advises the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) on rājadharma, emphasizing governance as the protection of social-ethical order and the prevention of societal breakdown.