Shloka 43
अध्याय ५७ — राज्ञः नित्यप्रयत्नः, रक्षा-प्रधानता, तथा त्याग-नीतिः
Chapter 57: Constant Royal Vigilance, Primacy of Protection, and Principles of Dismissal
प्राचेतसेन मनुना श्लोकौ चेमावुदाहतौ । राजधर्मेषु राजेन्द्र ताविहैकमना: शृणु,राजेन्द्र! प्राचेतस मनुने राजधर्मके विषयमें ये दो श्लोक कहे हैं। तुम एकचित होकर उन दोनों श्लोकोंको यहाँ सुनो
prācetasena manunā ślokau cemāv udāhṛtau | rājadharmeṣu rājendra tāv ihaikamanāḥ śṛṇu ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “O hari, tungkol sa mga tungkulin ng mga hari (rājadharma), ang dalawang taludtod na ito ay minsang binigkas noon ni Manu, anak ni Pracetā. Ngayon, pakinggan mo rito ang dalawang iyon nang buong pag-iisip at walang pagkagambala.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames rāja-dharma as a disciplined, authoritative teaching: Bhīṣma signals that what follows is grounded in Manu’s traditional authority and must be received with focused attention, implying that governance requires careful listening, restraint, and adherence to established ethical norms.
During Bhīṣma’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira in the Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma introduces two verses attributed to Manu (Prācetasa) on the duties of kings, asking the king to listen attentively before the cited guidance is delivered.