Shloka 30
Kṣātra-Dharma, Daṇḍanīti, and Social Order
Indra–Māndhātṛ Dialogue
सर्वधर्मपरं क्षात्र॑ं लोकश्रेष्ठं सनातनम् । शश्वदक्षरपर्यन्तमक्षरं सर्वतोमुखम्,इस प्रकार संसारमें क्षात्रधर्म ही सब धर्मोसे श्रेष्ठ सनातन, नित्य, अविनाशी, मोक्षतक पहुँचानेवाला सर्वतोमुखी है
sarvadharmaparaṁ kṣātraṁ lokaśreṣṭhaṁ sanātanam | śaśvad akṣara-paryantam akṣaraṁ sarvato-mukham |
اِندر نے کہا—کْشاتْر دھرم (شاہی/جنگجو فرض) سب دھرموں سے برتر ہے؛ دنیا میں سب سے اعلیٰ اور ازلی ہے۔ یہ بے خطا طور پر اَکْشَر (موکش/نجات) تک پہنچاتا ہے؛ خود بھی اَوناشی ہے اور سَروَتو مُکھ—ہر سمت رُخ کیے ہوئے، سب کو سنبھالنے اور بچانے والا۔
इन्द्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates kṣātra-dharma—righteous rule, protection, and disciplined use of force—as a comprehensive social duty that sustains the world and, when practiced in alignment with dharma, can become a means leading toward the Imperishable (mokṣa).
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on peace and governance, Indra speaks as an authoritative voice, praising the ideal of kṣatriya duty: protecting society, upholding order, and acting with a universal responsibility (‘sarvato-mukha’), rather than for narrow self-interest.