Shloka 26
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
व्यवसायं समाधाय सूर्यो रश्मीनिवायतान् | धर्ममेवाभिरक्षेत कृत्वा तुल्ये प्रियाप्रिये
vyavasāyaṃ samādhāya sūryo raśmīn ivāyatān | dharmam evābhirakṣeta kṛtvā tulye priyāpriye ||
Wika ni Bhishma: Kapag pinatibay na ng hari ang kanyang pasiya—gaya ng araw na naglalatag ng malalawak na sinag—dapat niyang ipagtanggol ang dharma lamang, at ituring na magkasinghalaga ang kaaya-aya at di-kaaya-aya. Sa matatag na pagsisikap at walang kinikilingang paghatol, dapat niyang itaguyod ang katuwiran bilang pinakamataas na tungkulin, at pangalagaan ang lahat nang hindi nadadala ng sariling gusto o poot.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must be steadfast in effort and impartial in judgment, not driven by personal preference. His primary obligation is to protect dharma—public righteousness and just order—just as the sun spreads its rays for the benefit of all.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on ideal kingship. Here he uses the sun’s universally extended rays as an image for a king’s impartial protection of dharma and subjects.