Shloka 3
राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)
राजधर्मान् विशेषेण कथयस्व पितामह | सर्वस्य जीवलोकस्य राजधर्म: परायणम्,पितामह! राजधर्म सम्पूर्ण जीवजगत्का परम आश्रय है; अतः आप राजधर्मोंका ही विशेषरूपसे वर्णन कीजिये
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |
rājadharmān viśeṣeṇa kathayasva pitāmaha |
sarvasya jīvalokasya rājadharmaḥ parāyaṇam, pitāmaha ||
Wika ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “O Pitāmaha (Dakilang Ninuno), ipaliwanag mo sa akin nang lalo’t higit ang mga tungkulin ng paghahari. Sapagkat ang rāja-dharma, ang dharma ng hari, ang pinakadakilang kanlungan ng buong daigdig ng mga nilalang na may buhay, O Pitāmaha.”
युधिषछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Royal duty (rājadharma) is presented as the paramount support of society: the well-being and moral order of all beings depend on righteous governance, so it must be taught with special care and detail.
In Śānti Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira, seeking guidance after the war, addresses Bhīṣma (the Grandsire) and requests a focused exposition on rājadharma—how a king should rule so that the whole living world finds protection and stability.