Shloka 25
मृत्यु-काल-प्रबोधनम् (Instruction on Mortality, Time, and Truth) — Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 169
तस्य विस्तीर्यते राज्यं ज्योत्स्ना ग्रहपतेरिव । प्रभो! जो अपनी शक्तिके अनुसार कर्तव्यका ठीक-ठीक पालन करते और संतुष्ट रहते हैं
tasya vistīryate rājyaṃ jyotsnā grahapater iva |
Wika ni Bhīṣma: Ang kaharian ng haring iyon ay lalawak at kakalat—gaya ng liwanag ng panginoon ng mga bituin (ang Buwan). Sa diwang etikal, pinupuri rito ang pinunong nakikipag-alyansa sa tunay na mahuhusay na tao: kapag ang hari ay nakipag-ugnay sa mga kasamang matatag, disiplinado, mapagkakatiwalaan, at nakaayon sa dharma, kusang lumalago ang kanyang kapangyarihan, tulad ng liwanag ng buwan na unti-unting pumupuno sa langit ng gabi.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s power and stability grow when he aligns himself with virtuous, disciplined, trustworthy people; ethical alliances and good counsel cause the realm to expand naturally, like moonlight spreading from the Moon.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on statecraft and conduct, using a poetic simile: the king who makes concord with excellent men sees his kingdom broaden like the Moon’s radiance.