Shloka 6
राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)
तत्र चेत् सम्प्रमुह्देत धर्मे राजर्षिसेविते । लोकस्य संस्था न भवेत् सर्व च व्याकुलीभवेत्
tatra cet sampramuhyeta dharme rājarṣi-sevite | lokasya saṃsthā na bhavet sarvaṃ ca vyākulībhavet ||
Kung sa rāja-dharma na iyon—na itinaguyod at isinabuhay ng mga sinaunang raja-ṛṣi—ang isang hari ay mahulog sa pagkalito at kapabayaan, guguho ang kaayusan ng daigdig, at ang lahat ay itatapon sa dalamhati at kaguluhan.
युधिषछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Royal dharma is not merely personal virtue but the foundation of public order; if a ruler becomes deluded or negligent in that duty, society’s stability collapses and widespread suffering follows.
Yudhiṣṭhira is reflecting on the gravity of kingship in the Śānti Parva’s discussions on governance, warning that a king’s lapse from the time-honored rāja-dharma practiced by ancient rājarṣis endangers the welfare of the entire world.