Shloka 26
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
महान् वृक्षो जायते वर्धते च त॑ चैव भूतानि समाश्रयन्ति । यदा वक्षश्छिद्यते दहाते च तदाश्रया अनिकेता भवन्ति
mahān vṛkṣo jāyate vardhate ca taṃ caiva bhūtāni samāśrayanti | yadā vṛkṣaś chidyate dahyate ca tadāśrayā aniketā bhavanti ||
Sinabi ni Utathya: “Kapag ang isang malaking punò ay isinilang at patuloy na lumalaki, maraming nilalang ang dumarating at sumisilong dito. Ngunit kapag ang punòng iyon ay pinutol o sinunog, ang lahat ng umasa rito ay nawawalan ng tahanan. Gayon din, kapag winasak ang sandigang nagtataguyod sa isang pamayanan, ang mga umasa roon ay maiiwang walang masisilungan.”
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A powerful support—like a great tree—creates refuge for many; destroying that support makes dependents shelterless. Ethically, one should protect sustaining institutions and caregivers (especially rulers and householders), mindful of the harm caused to those who rely on them.
Utathya illustrates his counsel with a vivid analogy: creatures gather in a flourishing tree for safety, but when it is cut or burned they lose their home. He uses this image to warn about the social fallout when a central protector or support is removed.