Shloka 54
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
अप्रमादश्न शौचं च राज्ञों भूतिकरं महत् | एतेभ्यश्वैव मान्धात: सततं मा प्रमादिथा:
apramādaś ca śaucaṁ ca rājño bhūtikaraṁ mahat | etebhyaś caiva māndhātaḥ satataṁ mā pramādithāḥ ||
اُتَتھْیَہ نے کہا—بادشاہ کے لیے بیداری (اپرماد) اور طہارت (شَوچ) نہایت عظیم فائدہ رکھنے والی ہیں؛ یہ خوشحالی اور عافیت بڑھاتی ہیں۔ اس لیے اے ماندھاتا! ان کے بارے میں کبھی بھی غفلت نہ کرنا۔
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s prosperity and stability depend on two foundational disciplines: apramāda (constant vigilance and responsibility) and śauca (purity/cleanliness in conduct and administration). Negligence in either undermines governance and welfare.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, the sage Utathya addresses King Māndhātṛ, giving concise counsel that a ruler must continually maintain vigilance and purity, and must never lapse into heedlessness.