Shloka 25
Jaradkāru Encounters the Pitṛs
Jaratkāru-Pitṛdarśana
परिक्षित्तु विशेषेण यथास्य प्रपितामह: । रक्षत्यस्मांस्तथा राज्ञा रक्षितव्या: प्रजा विभो,परीक्षित् तो विशेषरूपसे अपने प्रपितामह युधिष्ठिर आदिकी भाँति हमारी रक्षा करते हैं। शक्तिशाली पुत्र! प्रत्येक राजाको इसी प्रकार प्रजाकी रक्षा करनी चाहिये
parīkṣittu viśeṣeṇa yathāsya prapitāmahaḥ | rakṣaty asmāṁs tathā rājñā rakṣitavyāḥ prajā vibho ||
O Parīkṣit, sa natatanging paraan ay ipinagtatanggol mo kami, gaya ng ginawa noon ng iyong ninunong-lolo. Kaya, O makapangyarihan, ang isang hari ay nararapat ding magtanggol sa kanyang mga nasasakupan sa gayunding paraan.
शमीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse states a principle of rājadharma: the foremost duty of a king is to protect the people, taking guidance from exemplary ancestors who upheld this responsibility.
Śamīka addresses King Parīkṣit, acknowledging his protective conduct and using it to affirm the general rule that rulers must safeguard their subjects, as righteous kings of the lineage did before.