Shloka 33
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
संविभज्य यदा भुड्क्ते नृपतिर्दुर्बलान् नरान् । तदा भवन्ति बलिन: स राज्ञो धर्म उच्यते,जब राजा दुर्बल मनुष्योंको यथावश्यक वस्तुएँ देकर पीछे स्वयं भोजन करता है, तब वे दुर्बल मनुष्य बलवान हो जाते हैं। वह त्याग राजाका धर्म कहा गया है
saṁvibhajya yadā bhuṅkte nṛpatir durbalān narān | tadā bhavanti balinaḥ sa rājño dharma ucyate ||
संविभज्य यदा भुङ्क्ते नृपतिर्दुर्बलान् नरान् । तदा भवन्ति बलिनः स राज्ञो धर्म उच्यते ॥
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s dharma is to prioritize the welfare of the weak: by distributing resources to them first and restraining his own consumption, he strengthens society and fulfills righteous kingship.
In a discourse on righteous governance in the Śānti Parva, the sage Utatthya defines an ideal royal practice: the king should first provide necessities to vulnerable subjects and only afterward eat himself; this act of giving is praised as true royal duty.