Shloka 17
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत शान्तिपर्वके अन्तर्गत राजधर्मानुशासनपर्वमें युधिष्ठिरका वाक्यविषयक सत्रहवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ,निपानं सर्वभूतानां भूत्वा त्वं पावनं महत् | आद्यो वनस्पतिर्भूत्वा सो<न्यांस्त्वं पर्युपाससे
nipānaṁ sarvabhūtānāṁ bhūtvā tvaṁ pāvanaṁ mahat | ādyo vanaspatir bhūtvā so ’nyāṁs tvaṁ paryupāsase ||
“ท่านเป็นดุจที่ให้น้ำแก่สรรพสัตว์ เป็นผู้ชำระให้บริสุทธิ์อันยิ่งใหญ่ และเป็นดุจพฤกษาเอก ผู้ค้ำจุนเกื้อกูลและอุปถัมภ์ต้นไม้อื่นทั้งหลาย”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
True leadership (rājadharma) is measured by how one sustains and purifies society: like a common watering-place open to all beings, and like a foremost tree that shelters and supports others. The ethical ideal is impartial beneficence, protection, and service rather than self-interest.
Within the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Yudhiṣṭhira’s speech employs metaphors of a watering-place and a great tree to praise (or characterize) an exemplary supporter of others, reinforcing the expectation that a ruler or noble person exists for the welfare of all beings.