Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 44
Cyavana’s Water-Vow and the Ethics of Cohabitation (स्नेह-सम्वास-धर्मः)
दस्युभि्दियमाणं च धन दारांश्व॒ सर्वश: । सर्वेषामेव वर्णानां त्राता भवति पार्थिव:,डाकुओंद्वारा लूटे जाते हुए सभी वर्णोके धन और स्त्रियोंका राजा ही रक्षक होता है
dasyubhir hriyamāṇaṃ ca dhanaṃ dārāṃś ca sarvaśaḥ | sarveṣām eva varṇānāṃ trātā bhavati pārthivaḥ ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Kapag ang yaman—at maging ang mga babae—ay inaagaw ng mga tulisan sa iba’t ibang paraan, ang hari ang nagiging tagapagtanggol ng lahat ng varṇa. Ipinahihiwatig nito ang dharma ng pinuno bilang bantay ng bayan: tungkuling pigilan ang kawalang-batas at tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng tao at ari-arian nang walang pagtatangi.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The king’s primary dharma is protection: he must safeguard all people—across all varṇas—from violence, theft, and abduction, ensuring security of both property and personal safety.
Bhishma is instructing on royal duty, stating that when bandits plunder wealth and seize women, the ruler is the rightful protector and must act as the defender of society as a whole.