Shloka 17
Śaṅkha–Likhita Upākhyāna: Daṇḍa, Confession, and the Purification of Kingship (शङ्ख-लिखितोपाख्यानम्)
'शत्रुओंको अपने बल और बुद्धिसे काबूमें कर ही लेना चाहिये। पापियोंके साथ कभी मेल नहीं करना चाहिये। अपने राज्यको बाजारका सौदा नहीं बनाना चाहिये ।।
śūrāḥ satkāryāḥ āryāś ca satkāryā vidvāṃsaś ca yudhiṣṭhira | gominaḥ dhaninaś caiva paripālyā viśeṣataḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “O Yudhiṣṭhira, ang mga taong may tapang ay dapat parangalan; gayundin ang mararangal at ang mga pantas ay dapat igalang nang nararapat. At ang mga masaganang maybahay—lalo na ang mayayamang Vaiśya na nagtataglay ng maraming baka—ay dapat pangalagaan nang may natatanging pag-iingat.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s dharma includes actively honoring social pillars—valor, nobility, and learning—and giving special protection to productive, wealth-generating householders, particularly cattle-rich and prosperous Vaiśyas, since they sustain the realm’s stability and economy.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Vaiśampāyana continues conveying counsel addressed to Yudhiṣṭhira, emphasizing whom a ruler must respect and protect as part of good governance.