Shloka 37
राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः
Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures
यस्याभावेन भूतानामभाव: स्यात् समन्ततः । भावे च भावो नित्यं स्यात् कस्तं न प्रतिपूजयेत्
yasyābhāvena bhūtānām abhāvaḥ syāt samantataḥ | bhāve ca bhāvo nityaṃ syāt kastaṃ na pratipūjayet ||
அவர் இல்லையெனில் எல்லாத் திசைகளிலும் உயிர்களின் நிலை அழிவுறும்; அவர் இருப்பினால் அனைவரின் இருப்பும் எப்போதும் நிலைத்திருக்கும்—அத்தகைய அரசனை யார் மதித்து வணங்கமாட்டார்?
वसुमना उवाच
Educational Q&A
Righteous kingship is portrayed as a sustaining condition for collective welfare: the presence of a dharmic ruler preserves the existence and stability of beings, while the absence of such rule leads to widespread ruin; therefore honoring such a king is ethically appropriate.
Vasumanā is speaking within the Shanti Parva’s discourse on rajadharma, arguing for the necessity and venerability of the king by describing him as the support of social and living order—someone whose presence maintains stability and whose absence brings collapse.