Shloka 67
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
श्रूयते शम्बुके शूद्रे हते ब्राह्मणदारक: । जीवितो धर्ममासाद्य रामात् सत्यपराक्रमात्
śrūyate śambuke śūdre hate brāhmaṇadārakaḥ | jīvito dharmam āsādya rāmāt satyaparākramāt ||
سنا جاتا ہے کہ جب شَمبوک نامی شودر مارا گیا تو سچّے پرाकرم والے رام کے ذریعے، دھرم کی پناہ پا کر ایک برہمن لڑکا پھر سے زندہ ہو اٹھا۔
जम्बुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse appeals to received tradition to argue that a ruler’s upholding of dharma is believed to sustain the world’s order: when dharma is enforced (as exemplified by Rāma), misfortune is removed and wellbeing—even life—can be restored.
Jambuka cites a well-known itihāsa report: after Śambūka, identified as a Śūdra, was killed, a Brahmin child who had died was said to return to life through Rāma’s truth-grounded valor. The example functions as a precedent in a discussion on governance and dharma.