Shloka 32
राज्ञोऽभिषेकः, अराजकदोषः, दण्डधारणस्य आवश्यकता
Royal Consecration, the Fault of Kinglessness, and the Necessity of Enforcement
ये धर्मकुशला लोके धर्म कुर्वन्ति भारत । पालिता यस्य विषये धर्माशस्तस्य भूपते:
ye dharmakuśalā loke dharma kurvanti bhārata | pālitā yasya viṣaye dharmāśas tasya bhūpateḥ ||
Sinabi ni Bhishma: “O Bharata, yaong mga bihasa sa dharma at nagsasagawa ng katuwiran sa daigdig—kapag sila’y namumuhay na may pag-iingat sa loob ng nasasakupan ng isang hari, ang haring iyon ay tumatanggap ng bahagi sa kanilang gantimpala. Kaya ang tungkulin ng pinuno na magtanggol at magpanatili ng kaayusan ay may kaugnayang moral sa kabutihang nililinang ng mga taong nasa ilalim ng kanyang pamamahala.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king who protects and maintains order in his realm becomes ethically connected to the righteous deeds of his subjects and receives a share of their merit; therefore, good governance is itself a moral act with spiritual consequences.
In the Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on rājadharma (the duties of a ruler). Here he explains how the king’s protective role makes him a participant in the moral economy of the kingdom, gaining a portion of the merit generated by dharmic citizens.