Shloka 48
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
न जात्वदक्षो नृपति: प्रजा: शक्नोति रक्षितुम् | भारो हि सुमहांस्तात राज्यं नाम सुदुष्करम्
na jātvadakṣo nṛpatiḥ prajāḥ śaknoti rakṣitum | bhāro hi sumahāṁs tāta rājyaṁ nāma suduṣkaram |
اے عزیز! جو بادشاہ اہل و لائق نہیں، وہ کبھی رعایا کی حفاظت نہیں کر سکتا؛ کیونکہ سلطنت کا نظم و نسق نہایت دشوار کام ہے اور یہ بہت بڑا بوجھ ہے۔
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Kingship is not merely a title but a demanding moral and practical responsibility; without competence (dakṣatā), a ruler cannot protect the people, and thus fails in rajadharma.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance, the sage Utathya addresses a listener (tāta) and emphasizes that ruling is an arduous burden; only a capable king can safeguard the subjects.